Category: Academics at Stanford

Three Books program focuses on sustainability and equity

Following 13 years of tradition, Stanford’s incoming, first-year students received a special package for the summer: three books, carefully curated by a Stanford faculty member. Their assignment: read all three prior to New Student Orientation, which begins Sept. 19 and will include a panel discussion with the authors. This year’s selections for the Three Books… Read more Three Books program focuses on sustainability and equity

Here come the graduates!

Stanford will honor graduates during Commencement Weekend with festivities galore, ending with a performance by the Stanford Chamber Chorale in Memorial Church on Sunday afternoon. The main event, the 126th Commencement ceremony, will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 18, in Stanford Stadium. Baccalaureate, a multi-faith gathering led by students, will… Read more Here come the graduates!

New major created in aeronautics and astronautics

Prodded by students and pulled by traditional firms and startups, Stanford is creating an undergraduate major in aeronautics and astronautics. “For almost 60 years we’ve had successful graduate and research programs,” said professor Charbel Farhat, chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “Now we have a way to help Stanford undergraduates find their places… Read more New major created in aeronautics and astronautics

President and Provost write letters welcoming the Stanford community back for Winter Quarter

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne has sent a letter to members of the Stanford campus community, welcoming them back for Winter Quarter. The president’s letter includes news of appointments he has made and initiatives he is pursuing, including new open office hours for students. Provost John Etchemendy’s letter addresses issues that have been on the minds of… Read more President and Provost write letters welcoming the Stanford community back for Winter Quarter

Updates on Beijing and Cape Town overseas studies programs

Stanford has announced plans to indefinitely suspend its overseas studies program in Beijing at the end of the 2016-17 academic year – due to low enrollment – and to find a new home in China for the undergraduate program. The final Stanford in Beijing Program will be offered spring quarter of 2017. Ramón Saldívar, director… Read more Updates on Beijing and Cape Town overseas studies programs

Stanford's new East Asian Studies major adds Korean track

Koreanist Dafna Zur arrived at Stanford in July of 2012 – the same summer that the Korean pop music video “Gangnam Style” went viral on YouTube. While Zur conceded that the “Gangnam Style” cultural phenomenon sparked huge interest in her classes that fall, she said her students quickly became eager­ to dig deeper into Korean… Read more Stanford's new East Asian Studies major adds Korean track

Five things to know about pre-major advising

Alice Petty, director of pre-major advising in the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Research, oversees the many pre-major advisors university-wide who help new students make thoughtful choices about their academic careers. Petty, who earned her PhD in Near Eastern studies from Johns Hopkins University, answers five questions about the program for parents. What academic advising… Read more Five things to know about pre-major advising

Faculty Senate discusses trends in Stanford undergraduate majors

At a recent meeting of the Stanford Faculty Senate, Russell Berman, professor of German Studies and of comparative literature, and Brian Cook, a senior assessment and evaluation analyst at the university, discussed the findings in a report called Changes in the Academic Interests of Stanford Undergraduates. Berman, chair of the senate’s Planning and Policy Board,… Read more Faculty Senate discusses trends in Stanford undergraduate majors

Stanford's Convocation welcomes new students and transfers

At the 126th Opening Convocation Ceremony held in the Inner Quad Courtyard on Tuesday, Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne drew inspiration from an 1891 address university co-founder Jane L. Stanford wrote for the very first class of incoming students. “She wrote: ‘There is only one failure for you and that is not to be true to… Read more Stanford's Convocation welcomes new students and transfers

Welcome to parents from President Marc Tessier-Lavigne

September 2016 Dear Stanford Parent: Welcome to a new year at Stanford! As many of you know, this is my first year as president of Stanford, and I am thrilled to be joining the Stanford community! I am humbled and honored to take over from President John Hennessy. You may be interested to know that… Read more Welcome to parents from President Marc Tessier-Lavigne