Recording History with Class

To call alumnus marty greenfield consistent would be an understatement. Greenfield has been class secretary for the Class of 1951 for over a quarter of a century, and in 27 years of reporting he has never missed an issue.

 "I really enjoy keeping up with classmates," shrugs Greenfield, who took on the secretary job in 1976 when he volunteered to help with his 25th reunion. "Finding out who is doing what and where, and then conveying it to fellow classmates, is what the job is all about. But the added benefit is you get to build a lifelong relationship with your class."

Greenfield says being class secretary also keeps him involved with class affairs, which is among the most satisfying aspects of his role. "As a class officer, you are involved with class projects, particularly reunions," says Greenfield. "Reunions can be a very special time, and I think our 40th was truly special for me."

During their 40th reunion, the Class of 1951 created a memorable class project that still resonates at the Institute: the Fund for Excellence in Education at MIT. "Being a class officer gives you a chance to contribute to the direction of the class," says Greenfield. "And we were all quite proud of our accomplishment."

The Excellence in Education Fund was designed to encourage the development of new teaching modes. It serves as an incentive to faculty to develop innovative teaching tools for use in undergraduate courses.

"We looked at the fund as seed capital,' in a way," says Greenfield. "Its intention is to fund creative teaching methods, to help a striking new teaching technique get off the ground. If it works, the department can then step in and continue the needed funding."

By 2002, the class had raised over $1.1 million-a source of pride to the entire class, says Greenfield. And because of the fund's impact, two additional classes, 1955 and 1972, decided to officially join in, bringing the fund's total to $2.2 million.

"The Class of '51 is an independent group," chuckles Greenfield, placing extra weight on independent. "So we decided not to just hand a check over to the Institute. We really wanted to leave our mark, if you will. We conducted a great amount of research, interviewed faculty, talked with the president, and then decided that something important could be done with the money. In the end, we were proud of what we created."

Last year, the fund supported Professor Steven Pinker's computer-based multimedia demonstrations in psychology, helped faculty redesign the first-year curriculum in writing, and funded the creation of a geotechnical centrifuge to integrate physical modeling of large-scale engineering projects, to name but a few of its contributions. Other typical projects include the design of new curricula, training programs, instructional aids, and evaluation methods.

Rosaline Williams, former dean of undergraduate education, says that because of the Class of 1951 fund, "significant changes in the curriculum were undertaken all over MIT. It has turned out to be a wonderful partnership between MIT and its alumni."

Every year since the fund's creation, the number of faculty proposals has exceeded the funds available. Greenfield says the class views these proposals as a wellspring of innovation, and those left unfunded represent a real opportunity cost to MIT.

"It's quite an honor and a lot of fun to review the proposals," says Greenfield. "We review approximately two dozen proposals each year. Each class, plus the academic departments, have a vote." Greenfield says the review process is intensive, and at times requires some additional research. "I've had to scratch my head a few times, but it keeps me current on the leading teaching methods at the Institute." Since 1994, 47 educational projects have received support from the fund.

Greenfield, who retired seven years ago from Unisys, says he spends approximately four hours each month composing his class notes section for Technology Review. "The Alumni Association does a wonderful job keeping me posted on various classmates, which makes the task quite manageable."

When not volunteering for his class, Greenfield stays active taking classes at Brandeis University's Adult Learning Institute and attending Harvard's medical lecture series.

As for his role as class secretary, Greenfield plans to continue it. "It's really a lot of fun staying in touch," he says. "The only negative is that as the class gets older, I find myself writing more obituaries, which is my least favorite thing to do."

Greenfield and the Class of 1951 are now working hard to keep the Excellence in Education Fund going strong. As the members of the class get older, they have realized that now is the time to pass such a worthwhile project on to a younger generation, in order to continue its growth.

"We approached a number of classes and got a very positive response from the Class of 1999," says Greenfield. "Even though they are at the beginning of this project, we want them to have an equal vote and equal voice in the type of projects that receive funding. Being recent graduates, they bring an interesting perspective and a great deal of value to the project. Most of all, they ensure that a good idea continues to touch a future generation."

And for Marty Greenfield and the Class of 1951, staying in touch is what it's all about.