When we asked Dean of Graduate Studies Charles Barlowe about this, he wrote, "Dartmouth faculty teach Dartmouth courses. Dartmouth is unique among the Ivies, in that we have PhD programs only in 9 of our 39 departments and programs, so this question only pertains to about 25 percent of our courses. Moreover, graduate students do not have full responsibility for courses, but as part of their graduate training many do serve as teaching assistants and contribute a great deal to undergraduate student learning.
"As teaching assistants, graduate students may lead discussion groups, oversee laboratory sections, meet with students in small groups to review materials before an exam, or work side by side with undergraduates on research projects - all under the direction of a faculty member."
The only exception to this is in mathematics, where advanced doctoral students serve as course lecturers with supervision from a faculty advisor under guidelines established many years ago by John Kemeny. Dartmouth's mathematics department is well known for preparing its graduate students for successful teaching careers through a training program established under President Kemeny.
Dean Barlowe also shared with us that each year, Dartmouth provides a teaching award to the graduate student who best exemplifies the qualities of a college educator. Many students are nominated for the award and the nomination letters often include comments from undergraduates. One student wrote, for example, "This course was a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to enjoy or understand organic chemistry. However, I found much more success that I anticipated. I think this was due the invaluable help and support and patience of the Teaching Assistant."
The first Dartmouth PhD was awarded in the classics in 1885, and the first modern doctoral programs began in the 1960s. Most graduate programs are in the sciences, with the exceptions of comparative literature, electro-acoustic music, and the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. These students interact freely with undergraduates and contribute immensely to the quality of the intellectual experience.
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