USD Magazine, Fall 1999

All three professors say lawyers will need to keep abreast of computer-oriented developments like online transactions, legal rights in cyberspace and other Internet-related trends. "Technology has and will continue to change the courses we teach, the way we teach them and the type of students we admit," says Rodriguez. "It's inevitable." College of Arts and Sciences Humanities, sciences popular again among students, employers G alileo or Carl Sagan? Alexander Graham Bell or Bill Gates? When it comes to the bedrock of a university education - the arts and sciences - the next century appears headed back to the future: Professional schools, which tended to dominate the latter part of the 20th century with their narrow curriculums and job-skills training programs, are giving way to a resurgence in the humanities and cross-disciplinary learning. In short, the kind of education that is the cornerstone of the University of San Diego's College of Arts and Sciences. "Employers tell us they're not so much interested in a student with a professional education, but rather they want an undergraduate who is flexible, articulate, has good interpersonal skills and team skills," says Dean Pat Drinan. "Those are exactly the kind of skills our liberal arts cross-disciplinary work accomplishes." To reinforce the " liberal arts" aspect of the university, profes– sional programs such as engineering and paralegal have been moved out of the college to make way for more interaction among the core disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics. And two of the university's largest projects - the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and a proposed Science Center - will build on that strong foundation of arts and sciences. The Kroc Institute, which is expected to open in August 2001 on the West Point Field site, will not only house mediation and con– flict resolution centers and, eventually, graduate studies in peace and justice, but also several liberal arts disciplines. "With the Kroc Institute we will have a beautiful discourse between faith and reason," Drinan says. "Compartmentalization of

knowledge makes less and less sense. We're nimble enough as a facul– ty to probe the possibilities of all these disciplines." The proposed Science Center, which is hoped to get underway in the next five years, is designed to put all the science faculty under one roof and to replace the university's antiquated labs, which Drinan refers to as from the "pre-Sputnik era." "This will allow our faculty and students to reach across disci– plines and work with each other more effectively. Something as simple as putting biology and chemistry together gives us a synergy we just don't have now," Drinan says. There's also another benefit - the cramped psychology and fine arts departments can expand into space left behind by the sciences. But the future of arts and sciences doesn't just hinge on the physical. While teaching will be the first priority among faculty, research is becoming emphasized, not only among faculty but also undergraduate students. It is envisioned that eventually incoming freshman will be given the opportunity to combine research with their general studies, whether the field be psychology or biology. "Will there be more research in 20 years? The answer is 'yes.' Will there be better teaching in 20 years? The answer is 'yes,' " Drinan predicts. "We will be in a more technologically rich atmos– phere in the future, but that still is not a substitute for putting high quality students with high quality faculty.''

arch 22 - Hale-Bopp comet closest t Earth until 4397.

Jan. 21 - White Hou e ex scan– dal leads to impeachment of Pre ident Clinton.

August - Monsignor Daniel Dillabough named vice president for mission and ministry. Nov. 7 - Sen. John Glenn returns to Earth. after second space trip. Dae. 8 - Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing approved; the first Ph.D. to be offered at USD.

Oct. 14 - Rev. Monsignor I. B. Eagen dies at the age of 67. 1998 January - Dual, double-degree in international business intro– duced between USD and a Mexican university.

10 - David W. May gallery, featuring Southwest Indian arti– facts, opens.

Fahruary- 975-space Mission Parking Complex opens.

May 10- Baseball coach John Cunningham retires after 35 years and 843 victories.

11· 31- Princess Diana killed in car acci– Jenc in Paris.