Oberlin seniors are being invited to participate in a program initiated by the Office of the Dean of Students and Residential Education and Dining Services. As a part of the program participants will share their college experience with representatives from both offices.

“We don’t know how many students will be able to participate, but we think it’s important to hear what experience students have had,” said Associate Dean of Students Shozo Kawaguchi.

This program is a continuation of another project Kawaguchi is working on with Associate Dean of Students Adrian Batista and a few first-years, called the First-Year Experience.

However, while the first year program works with first-years in order to get their first impressions of the general atmosphere in Oberlin, the senior experience project hopes to go further. The College wants to gain student perspectives on issues such as relationships with the administration, social aspects of Oberlin and the differences between the on- and off-campus living experience.

“What has been the best and most impressionable experience at Oberlin?” and “What has been the most challenging experience at Oberlin?” are two examples of questions that will be put forth in the program interview. Others include “Please tell me about your overall academic experience?”, “Are you satisfied with the quality of teaching?” and “How have professors had an impact on your intellectual development?” Seniors will also be asked about their plans immediately following graduation.

The survey will be completely confidential and names of participants will not be attached to their answers. “We want them to speak freely,” Kawaguchi said.

The first interview took place on Thursday. At least five or six more seniors have shown interest in the program.

“We will be comparing notes with ResLife and we will see what we should be doing,” Kawaguchi said.

The idea for the program was initially brought up a few months ago at a meeting and ResLife volunteered to assist the Dean of Students Office because they have a lot of contact with students on an every day basis.

This is the first time that this program is taking place.

“It’s more of a survey. I don’t think we have done this before,” said Kawaguchi.