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The abrupt departure a few days back of Tim Weithers, an associate director at the University of Chicago’s MSFM program, remains something of a mystery. On Thursday, Nov 18th, it was announced that Mr. Weithers had resigned effective immediately. What makes his departure bizarre is that all mention of him on the University of Chicago’s MSFM website has been removed within days of his resignation. He is not only not listed anymore on the faculty page but there is no announcement of his departure. Our request for comment from the university spokesman as well as Dean Fefferman, and Director Berestycki has met with no response.
Profile of Tim Weithers on the Chicago MSFM's faculty page as of Nov 21, 2010 (Source: Googlecache)
We wonder whether this departure is symptomatic of some of the turbulence that has affected the Chicago program in recent months. We published a piece on our site a few months back informing readers that the founding director – Niels Nygaard – was stepping aside. Not only was a new director appointed but the new position of executive director created and filled. Like other MFE programs in the current downturn, Chicago’s MSFM has had to contend with sagging placement rates; as a concomitant there has been increasing dissatisfaction from the students who, wanting value for their dollar in these difficult times, have been demanding both more strenuous placement efforts and better taught courses. The departure of Tim Weithers may, however, have nothing to do with the makeover of the Chicago program and any possible connection is strictly conjecture on our part.
Tim Weithers was co-teaching the Foreign Exchange course (Finmath 37300) with Al Kanzler. At the start of the third lecture, students were informed that Weithers had left and the remainder of the course would be taught by Al Kanzler alone. Seemingly no explanation was given. At least some of the students were pleased with Weithers’ departure as it would appear there had been numerous complaints about him in the past.
This year Gregory Lawler will be teaching stochastic calculus, one of the courses most complained about in years past.
Profile of Tim Weithers on the Chicago MSFM's faculty page as of Nov 21, 2010 (Source: Googlecache)
We wonder whether this departure is symptomatic of some of the turbulence that has affected the Chicago program in recent months. We published a piece on our site a few months back informing readers that the founding director – Niels Nygaard – was stepping aside. Not only was a new director appointed but the new position of executive director created and filled. Like other MFE programs in the current downturn, Chicago’s MSFM has had to contend with sagging placement rates; as a concomitant there has been increasing dissatisfaction from the students who, wanting value for their dollar in these difficult times, have been demanding both more strenuous placement efforts and better taught courses. The departure of Tim Weithers may, however, have nothing to do with the makeover of the Chicago program and any possible connection is strictly conjecture on our part.
Tim Weithers was co-teaching the Foreign Exchange course (Finmath 37300) with Al Kanzler. At the start of the third lecture, students were informed that Weithers had left and the remainder of the course would be taught by Al Kanzler alone. Seemingly no explanation was given. At least some of the students were pleased with Weithers’ departure as it would appear there had been numerous complaints about him in the past.
This year Gregory Lawler will be teaching stochastic calculus, one of the courses most complained about in years past.
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