There is only one reason why any academic institution exists, why teachers work, and why any of us are here on campus: the student. The student is the raison d’etre of any academic institution, and there is only one possible answer to the question of who is the most important person on campus. It is the student. Thus, in some manner everyone on campus should literally be working in service of our students.

However, this implies both rights and responsibilities. Education is not simply something that happens to the student. It is the byproduct of the student’s effort and work. Thus, the role of the student is of necessity an active one. The Socratic ideal of the teacher helping to draw forth their knowledge and understanding of the student should always be our guideline. In many ways, a college education works best when the student is the teacher and the teacher the student.

Doug Deaver Home