History
Since its inception in 1986, DGSAC has served as a project-oriented think tank for the Dean of the Wharton School and the Vice Dean and Director of the Graduate Division. The committee is charged with generating ideas to make the school a better place. Members are encouraged to think creatively, without bounds, and to present ideas to the Dean and Vice Dean for feedback. Once a successful project is initiated, the continuation is usually taken over by the WGA or administration of the school.
Sample of Major Past Projects
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1998-99
- Philadelphia FAPs - Located approximately 8 projects, 4 of which were chosen by teams, to benefit the City of Philadelphia; arranged for positive publicity
- Undergraduate Outreach Initiative - Program through which current students and alumni visited top universities to meet with seniors about the benefits of getting an MBA and those of attending Wharton specifically
- Researched the coverage of diversity issues in the curriculum
- Made recommendations on course pack content and distribution improvements
- Created the first Wharton Welcome Weekend for admitted students, held in the Spring of 1995
- Proposed Standards of Responsibility and Conduct in conjunction with faculty-student committee
- Presented proposal for strengthening the Wharton Alumni Network
- Surveyed peer schools regarding grading policies
- Presented a feasibility study for the establishment of an MBA Cafe in Hoover Lounge
- Organized a Faculty Exchange presentation, with 8 faculty and 11 students and moderators; topics covered: student preparation for class, class attendance, teaching ratings, feedback and communication between students and faculty, teaching awards, and the grading system
- Reintroduced and expanded the MBA Insider's Guide to Courses and Faculty
- Organized Dean's Address and Awards ceremony in Spring (expansion of Champagne Happy Hour, renamed to Spring Salute in 1993)
- Established Jumpstart (Inlingua) program, offering language mini-courses
- Established mid-semester course evaluations
- Presented recommendations for curricular changes to the faculty curriculum committee including the establishment of a Finance for Non-Finance Majors course
- Recommended the establishment of a course on Managing Diversity
- Established new tradition of giving a graduation gift from the school to all students
- Made recommendations to improve the flow of the financial aid process
- Created an in-depth analysis of Wharton's grading system
- Created a task force to study loan forgiveness for students in not-for-profit jobs
- Established the annual Dean's Awards of Excellence for Spirit, Service to Wharton, and Service to the Community
- Recommended the establishment of a cohort system and a living learning center
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
1986-87
