Step One, Find an Advisor

Korrin B.

January 16, 2010 - 10:30 PM

Next term, it begins. As a student in the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, I am required to write a thesis in order to graduate. I will be enrolling in the thesis prospectus class next term, marking the official take off of my research. However, being the nerdy honors kid that I am, I couldn't help, but start even a little earlier.

You see, it has come to my attention recently, through events such as the building of the John Jaqua Center (see January 9 post for my brief thoughts on this) and the restructuring of my major's requirements in order to make it easier to graduate, that higher education is facing a crisis. The educational system, through the pressure of budget strains and an increased population of the "entitlement generation," is becoming increasingly lax. It is shying away from challenging the minds of the nation's youth and instead succumbing to the lazy student who still demands they receive an A in the class. Perhaps in an effort to gain the tuition universities need in order to run, nationwide they are accepting more and more students and nonchalantly just passing them through the system. The students take advantage of the easy path to a bachelor's degree, lowering the overall value of getting one. Usually one to shy away from conflict, I have found myself becoming increasingly impassioned over this topic, arguing to friends and family the reality of what this means for the future - an ill-prepared workforce, a world reputation of being a place of poorly educated people, etc. I have a challenge for both universities and students - don't let this happen! Students, realize the gift that your education is and take it seriously, take advantage of internships and opportunities to learn more, do the reading, and actually earn your A. Universities, stop the downward spiral of expectations, once again hold students accountable for their knowledge, hold every student to the same standard, and give students the grades they earn.

What is the point for all of this ramble? I refuse to let my thesis just be another thesis. I will not be completing my thesis just so I can fulfill the requirement and add a line to my resume. I will take advantage of every moment of intellectual inspiration this thesis has to offer. I will soak in the research process. I will create a work that I can truly be proud of. I want to write a thesis good enough to have a shot at being published.

So, on top of everything winter term is already throwing at me, I took it upon myself to start my thesis process now, leaving me even more prepared for next term's prospectus class. The task at hand? Find a departmental advisor. Who did I want? Laura Leete, assistant professor and undergraduate program director for the Planning, Public Policy, and Management Department.

This last Tuesday, I went into her office hours and began to explain the two ideas I have begun to formulate for my thesis topic. We ended up talking about it for around forty-five minutes and I was able to get some great ideas from her about how to start researching. I had Professor Leete for PPPM 330 last winter and thought she was amazing. At the end of our meeting, she had agreed to by my departmental advisor for my thesis. I could not be more excited to work with her. Let my nerdy thesis obsession begin!