Cornell Daily Sun

October 28, 1998

Profs Honored for Undergraduate Teaching

Three members of the Cornell faculty recognized with the Stephen H. Weiss Fellowship

By NAVNEET GILL

Sun Staff Writer

While it is common for professors to receive awards for research and contributions to their academic fields, Cornell University takes the recognition process one step further by annually awarding the Stephen H. Weiss Fellowship which honors faculty members for excellence in teaching undergraduates.

This year, President Hunter R: Rawlings III selected Prof. Ali Hadi, chair of the ILR Department of Social Statistics, Prof. Michael Kelley, electrical engineering, and Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor and chair of the Department of Government.

The fellowship was named after the former president of the Board of Trustees, Stephen H. Weiss '57, who endowed the award of $5,000 per year for five years for each fellow. "The fellowship is the highest teaching award we offer at Cornell. The emphasis is on undergraduate teaching and the professors selected show sustained excellence in this area over many years," Rawlings said.

In addition to holding the fellowship title for life, fellows can use the monetary award for any-thing that improves teaching and helps the University, Rawlings explained. This year's recipients were honored at a dinner last Thursday, Rawlings said that the professors chosen this year each had "an impact on students' intellectual development in their own way."

'Extraordinary'

Hadi is an "extraordinary teacher whose caring goes beyond the classroom" and he is always available to students, even after they are no longer enrolled in any of his classes, said Prof. Paul Velleman, statistics. Velleman added he has heard stories of how Hadi has helped a range of students from undergraduates to graduates.

"Ali takes the extra step beyond being a good performer and he makes himself available. In spite of all this, he out-publishes everyone else in the department," Velleman said.

According to Hadi, the fellowship means a lot to him because he came a long way, both emotionally and physically, to become a professor. Hadi grew up in a small village in rural Egypt, and after going to a neighboring town for schooling up to sixth grade, he was encouraged by his fifth and sixth grade teacher, Fauzi Haleem, to continue with his education even though most people stopped after sixth grade.

At the age of 12, Hadi and another boy moved to another town for the duration of the school year so that they could continue their education.

"I have been on my own since I was 12, but I am glad my teacher convinced me to continue with my education. I have never forgotten Fauzi Haleem - he is my role model, the reason why I emphasize personal interaction with students," Hadi said.

'Richly Deserving'

Kelley "richly deserves" the fellowship because of his pioneering work with freshman and sophomore calculus and physics workshops, in which students teach themselves, according to Prof. Donald Farley, electrical engineering.

Through the implementation of the workshops, which include upperclassmen who function as student facilitators, Kelley said he wants students to learn together. "The workshops use the best of a group to elevate the whole. By trying to explain your ideas to another person, the both of you benefit," he said.

Because Kelley wanted to help junior and senior electrical engineering students who participated in the workshops, he was able to create a course for students to get credit for their involvement as facilitators. Kelley said that workshop facilitating is a second way for electrical engineers to graduate with honors in addition to the research option.

According to Farley, the workshops are a new way to teach, instead of just lecturing and spoon-feeding students. "It's a cooperative way of learning and it's phenomenal," Farley said.

'Devoted to Advisees'

Kramnick has had an impact on Cornellians since his arrival in 1972, said Theodore J. Lowi, the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions. In my opinion, Isaac should've been the first professor to receive this fellowship," Lowi said.

Kramnick teaches both introductory and upper-level courses and maintains close relation-ships with all of his 55 advisees, according to Michael Busch, government administrative manager. In addition, he has been chair of the government department three separate times. "He's a great professor who devotes a lot of time to his advisees and makes sure he is accessible to everyone," Busch said. "To my knowledge, he's the best. He's a great chair and he still manages to keep his teaching and advising up. There's not a glitch in this man," Lowi said.

Kramnick said he feels it is a treat to teach Cornellians because "they're so inquisitive and interesting. I try to spend a lot of time with students and it's nice to be recognized and acknowledged for it." The best thing about Cornell is the undergrads. They make my involvement with them easy and natural," Kramnick added.

All three recipients said the fellowship meant a lot to them because it is an indication that the University takes undergraduate teaching seriously. "It's a wonderful recognition by the University and strong evidence on the administration's part of the role of undergraduate teaching here," Kramnick said.