Why does the Oakley Center still send paper memos to faculty and staff?
Most colloquia at the Oakley Center are open only to faculty and staff of Williams and other institutions of higher education in the North Berkshires, which means we cannot advertise them in the online public Events Calendar. The Oakley Center routinely uses the Daily Messenger, but our experience strongly suggests that many faculty still do not regularly consult the DM. Events advertised only in the DM often produce disappointing turnouts. Moreover, DM policy permits events to be advertised only once, which is difficult to reconcile with the Center's need to advertise twice: first, 7-10 days in advance of a colloquium so that participants have time to read the material to be discussed, and then again on the day of the event. For this reason, we will continue to circulate paper memos to faculty and staff until the college implements more effective ways to showcase our events electronically or amends its policies discouraging direct email communication with faculty and staff. We look forward to finding an electronic solution that meets our needs and reduces the number of paper memos that we are obliged to produce.
The Oakley Center was established in 1985 to support faculty research across the humanities and social sciences, with a special emphasis on interdisciplinary work. Since that time, it has come to play a vital role in the scholarly life of Williams College. The Center provides a meeting place where faculty and administrative staff can pursue their intellectual and research interests. It sponsors many events and programs throughout the year, some exclusively for faculty and staff and others for the entire campus and the wider public. Programs especially for faculty include colloquia with distinguished visiting scholars and Center-supported faculty research and reading groups. The Center's public events include occasional conferences and the annual Richmond, Weiss, and Allison Davis Lectures.
Williams faculty on leave may apply for Center Fellowships. The Center provides an office and research stipend. Through the Clark-Oakley Fellowship, offered in conjunction with the Research and Academic Program of the Clark Art Institute, the Center also provides an office and funding for one scholar, from outside the College, who will take part in the programs of both institutions. Each semester, about ten faculty Fellows are in residence and participate in a weekly research seminar. Through the Ruchman Fellowship program, one Williams senior participates in the Fellows' seminar as well.
Link to Oakley Center events, 2006-2009