With five professors on leave and 19.9 percent of declared students government majors, Bowdoin's government department is in a state of transition, according to Department Chair Paul Franco.
At Bowdoin, most of the popular government classes are completely full and some are over the limit. These super-sized classes include an Advanced Seminar in Democracy and Development in Asia, Constitutional Law I, Introduction to International Relations, and Classical Political Philosophy.
At the same time, however, some classes are under the maximum cap size. Eleven classes, including Introduction to Political Behavior, Environmental Policy and Politics, Maine Politics, and Middle East Politics, are not full.
Director of Institutional Research Christine Cote said that the overcrowded government courses are not because of a faulty registration system.
"We have a system based on fairness," she said. "There are several very popular classes that a lot of students want. That's where it springs from."
This semester, 45 percent of students received all of their top-choice courses. This number is the median when compared to past statistics. Last fall, 48 percent got their top picks, compared to 42 percent the year before that.
With the unusually large percentage of full-time professors on leave in the government department, the overcrowding situation is even more difficult. In reference to the number of government professors on leave, Franco noted, "That is more than usual...that's a bit high."
There are 11 full-time government professors, and in a typical year, two or three professors take leave. "Five is excessive, but two or three is normal," Franco said.
Franco also noted that the modification of the maximum cap-size from 50 students to 35 students in one class has also affected the overflow in government courses.
"We are feeling a bit of pressure...the switch from 50 to 35 students max has certainly exacerbated the process," he said.
He notes that government has always been a popular major at Bowdoin and that this issue of overcrowding has "not seemed to have dampered the demand."
Some students feel that the strain in the department is affecting their education. Elissa Gervais '09 was upset that she did not get into Introduction to International Relations.
"I really wanted that class," said Gervais. "I even emailed the professor to get onto the waiting list."
This experience has made Gervais think more about her future studies at Bowdoin. "It makes you consider another major more seriously because you don't know if you can get into the government classes," she said.
Ashley Fischer '09 was not able to get any government first-year seminars. "I signed up for most of them, but didn't get into any," Fischer said.
"I really want to go into international relations and was hoping to take a government class my freshman year," she said.
Franco, however, has not heard too many criticisms. "I haven't gotten a lot of direct complaints," he said. "Maybe a little during registration."
Franco noted that he works mostly with juniors and seniors and assumes that the frustration is most often seen in first-year and sophomore students.
The department does realize that students are disappointed and that it would be helpful to have more professors in the department, according to Franco. "We feel like we have a need and would like to see that need addressed," Franco said.
The department is submitting a proposal to hire one or two more full-time professors. In addition, Franco stated, "We are talking to the dean about becoming a leave-proof department." Leave-proofing would prohibit full-time professors from going on leave for a semester or more, eliminating the need for temporary professors.
"This has not weakened the department," Franco stated. "We're in a time of transition. We're hoping to get more [professors] but we've still got a good core."