Volume 67, Issue 3

Academic Trends on Campus: Wilf Campus Population Explosion Seen as Definite Challenge

by Hillel Broder

With the burgeoning student body and dearth of space on the Wilf Campus, the heads of the six undergraduate schools on campus are scurrying more than ever before to better accommodate the growing population. Because of the lack of on-campus space, however, the deans have already begun to acknowledge that increase in enrollment is currently impossible.

In order to examine the effects of the student growth on the academic programs in Yeshiva, deans of Yeshiva College, Sy Syms School of Business, Mazer Yeshiva Program, and undergraduate Jewish Studies were polled to assess the ramifications student body expansion is having upon their schools. 

Addressing accommodations for the growing MYP enrollment, which now stands between 500 and 600, “more of the same [is] better,” said MYP Dean Rabbi Zevulun Charlop.  Recent evidence to Charlop’s claim is the abundance of MYP students learning in the Morgenstern Beis Medrash, which until last year was occupied by students in SBMP.

Additionally, Charlop noted that MYP has recently developed a variety of shiurim catering to all tastes.  Using the shiurim of Rabbis Yaakov Neuberger and Jeremy Wieder as examples of diverse teaching styles, Charlop asserted, “A boy would be hard-pressed not to find a shiur he liked.”  In addition, a specific shiur given by Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky has been created to cater toward a specific audience of early admission students, as well as freshmen who did not spend a year in Israel.

Although MYP accounts for forty-three percent of the student population on campus, SBMP, IBC, and JSS comprise the other fifty-seven percent of the student body. “[Because of our large enrollment,] it is … important to cater strongly to these individuals,” said Dean Rabbi Michael Shmidman. “They are our future talmidei chachamim and community leaders,” he added

A highly popular track of Jewish studies, BMP had only 24 students enrolled 5 1/2-years-ago.  The current BMP enrollment, however, stands at approximately 250 – a staggering jump. As Shmidman explained, “BMP is popular now, because many students want to replicate the type of studying they had in Israel in having one rebbe as teacher of all subjects.”

IBC’s strength lies in its diverse course and shiur options. Shmidman noted that to strengthen the program, he would like to have a visiting Rabbi or Professor act as a guest chair of IBC for single year periods.

The growth of Yeshiva is greatly reflected in JSS as well.  Hailing from around the world, JSS students come from as far as Morocco, Chile, Italy, Ukraine, Russia, Panama, and Myanmar.  Indicative of the overall growth seen on campus, the JSS program continues to expand.

Shmidman noted, however, that there is a general absence of Mashgichim (advisors) available to students and attentive to student issues in the Jewish Studies programs. “This is something,” he lamented, “that YU fails to recognize”.

Yeshiva College & Sy Syms

Over the past five years, the “greatest addition to YC has been the Honors Program,” said Assistant Dean Dr. Joyce Jesionowski.  In setting the par for what should be challenging classes, the Honors Program has crystallized the definition of what constitutes an introductory and advanced course.  Additionally, the Honors Program allows all students to sincerely pursue topics of interest not specifically related to their majors.  In doing so, students have taken initiatives to expand their personal intellectual horizons.

As a result of the demands of today’s professional business market, students are now less likely to pursue majors unrelated to practical professions, something not uncommon only a few years ago.  Thus, Jesionowski emphasized, YC students are challenged with pursuing both a liberal arts education and a professional career in their undergraduate studies.  She explained that the college experience is frequently viewed as running through a long corridor, keeping your eye on the door at the end of the hallway even when stopping to attend classes.  It is important, she said, that students realize the value of a liberal education, and what it will mean for them and their future academic pursuits.  She argued that the recent requirement of 84 credits to be completed on campus aids in actualizing the college’s goal in expanding students’ intellectual horizons.

According to Sy Syms Dean Dr. Charles Snow, SSSB has reached its highest enrollment ever, with a current enrollment of 735 men and women.   Because of the scarcity of available dormitory and classroom space for SSSB, however, continuous expansion of the business program “is currently not an option,” said Snow.

Due to the flailing economy, fewer firms are recruiting at Wilf Campus itself.  Rather, firms are now requesting that students send resumes to their offices, said Snow.  To address the pressing issue of job placement, SSSB is actively pursuing hiring firms, as well as hosting mock interviews with SSSB students, to be taped and analyzed by students and faculty.  As of now, SSSB has secured jobs for 91 percent of May 2002 graduates who had sought positions following graduation.

Looking towards the future, Snow remarked, “Right now, we are evaluating curriculum, to add quality where appropriate.”  In doing so, SSSB hopes to produce students prepared for the highly competitive job market.

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