Bettina Duval '82. Photo by Keegan Houser.
What changes have you observed in undergraduate education?
When I was a student, the majors were much more structured. There wasn’t as much cross–pollination as there is now. One of the greatest differences and benefits for today’s students is that they can create their major as they go, and there are a lot more mentoring opportunities.
Did you ever feel overwhelmed?
Yes, but I think that’s part of the learning experience — and it’s a lesson you learn in life. It’s big out here! But there’s always a place to belong, and you have to find it. For me, I entered student government. I also chose a smaller major, rhetoric, so I got to know my fellow students.
The number of students has dramatically increased since then. There are over 33,000 undergraduates this fall, and over 21,000 of them are in the College of Letters & Science (L&S). We’re organized better to create a home for them and help them find where they want to be the most and grow.
What do you mean by “creating a home” in an academic setting?
Pathways is a great example, an L&S program for first-year students. Its goal is to help them feel welcomed, find their way through all of the opportunities that are available, and make friends. Students are placed in small groups of 25, then take three classes together that are linked around big topics such as pre-med, democracy, or technology and society. It just started last year, and the participants earned higher GPAs than the freshman class’s average as a whole.
How can Berkeley keep growing this program?
To keep up with student growth and teach them effectively, we have to provide more faculty support. I made a gift to launch an endowed fellowship for faculty research and growth in rhetoric. That department is a lifelong love of mine, and I want to make sure it’s there for future generations.
