Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

New'co Eo BY MARK MORROW Of The Gamecock staff How would you like to go to a college without a grading system or required courses and still graduate with a college degree? According to a recent article in Changing Times magazine there are 41 such colleges. For example at Colo"ado College, students usually take only one course at a time, packed into an intense three-and-a-half-week term. At Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, there are no course requirements, no grades or majors. Students work in small groups on a common topic or sign up for internships, independent research or other methods of studying. During the past few years colleges have been changing grading systems and course requirements in favor of something new. Changes have emphasized what students want to study, a more career-oriented curriculum and easier access to college credit. Nicholas P. Mitchell, vice president for administrative services at USC, agrees it may be easier to get into these colleges. "Basically, any generalizations are not always good, the people who go to these free-for-all colleges are not qualified," Mitchell said. "I would have to say up until now the recognized degrees have carried more weight with em-. ployers, this is not to say that the other degrees are not recognized," he said. However, Empire State College in New York reports that of 146 students surveyed after graduation, 22 per cent had higher pay, 15 per cent greater job responsibilities, and nine per cent reported a promotion. At the 30 locations of Empire State College, there are no cam puses. The College rents the space the The Backpacker COURSE. Six da~ classes in the G Park. MayJ 18 22 For de leges lucation witi for classrooms and work areas. Applicants design a course of study and submit it to the college faculty for approval. It may include courses at other colleges, correspondence, internships and independent study. Degree requirements are based on the length and quality of a student's work. Mitchell said graduate schools look with "questioning eyes" at '... recognized degrees have carried more weight with employers...' degrees from colleges of this type. He said the student may have to work harder to convince schools of his worth. According to the study made by Tim Laymann, director of Program Evaluation at Empire State College, of 69 graduate ap plicants from the school since its formation in 1971 51 wwe accepted, 11 rejected, and seven were pending when the study was made. Some other schools with dif ferent requirements are listed below. The cost is generally higher than average in these schools because of their small size. Franconia College, Franconia, N.H. Cost, $5,000; students, 500. Students are expected to plan their own programs of study. No specific course requirements, much independent study and off campus work. Grading system is credit-no-credit, with written evaluations of a student's work by faculty or job supervisor of student himself. Bennington College, Bennington, Vt. Cost, $5,700. No grades are used. The college uses written comments to gauge student progress. There are no required courses. Students spend each winter_term at an off-campus qualltg gi announces THE BAC es of comprehensive reat Smokey Mount Class Dates Jne July 8 13 20 29 tails. call or ropn by the out grades activity related to their interests. Manhattanville College, Pur chase, N.Y. Cost, $4,200. No formal course requirements. Evaluation for degrees comes through portfolios students keep of their work, including transcripts, written evaluations and evidence of accomplishments. Study may be through lecture, seminars or independent study. Worchester Polytechnic In stitute, Worcester, Mass. Cost, $4,300; students, 2,000. No required courses. Students can take a traditional approach to a degree or design one to fit their interests. Emphasis is on student-planned projects and independent study. Grading system is equivalent to pass-high pass-no record. Negotiated admissions permit applicants with required high school courses to admit themselves if they think they can do the work. Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Mich. Cost, $3,100; students, 1,400. Committee plans study of program A six-member joint sub committee from the Faculty Ad visory Committee and the Academic Forward Planning Committee will be named to study the future role of the College of General Studies . Members of the special study committee will be named by Dr. Charles Collidge, academic for ward planning chairman, and Dr. Rufus Fellers, advisory committee chairman. Faculty members from the College of General Studies will be invited to serve in an advisory capacity to the study committee. Information generated by the study has been requested to be available to the parent committees in the fall. O1 KPACKER backpacking ains National August 3 10 24 31 shopn or requirer After the freshman year on campus, students alternate campus studies with off-campus work in career-related internships, independent study and foreign study. Most students spend fall and winter quarters of their junior year abroad. One quarter of the studdents are engaged in off campus activities at all times. Elmira College, Elmira N.Y. Cost, $4,400; students, $1,000. Final term each year is devoted to off campus career-related work, community service, independent study or research. There are few curriculum requirements. Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Fla. Cost, $3,900; students, 900. Special term for freshmen consists of only one course, which is designed to ease the transition from high school to college. Other features are self-designed majors, contract study, off-campus Get your own priv minutes from the Car pools, lighted tennis < much more. Call 794-2948 for n orner of Cra in West I Students eligible for Stud during the Spring Semeste during the summer may c Coverage during the sumrr Contact Ms. Crapps, of t for more complete Inforn care. This program of Summer on a voluntary basis as a: (JALE PROFESSOR Will hold a discussion Euphradian H all this 'l the topic of "Nature at Modern Literature." Ti by the Euphradian Li reception will follow. Harper College th rents. programs and work-study programs. Goddard College, Plainsville, Vt. Cost, $3,800; students, 1,000. Students compose their programs from a variety of options: Traditional courses, independent study, workshops and off-campus related jobs. Most spend at least two semesters in study or ap prenticeship. This is just a small list of the 41 schools that the magazine listed as having different degree requirements. The only school that USC has with anything comparable might be the College of General Studies. Students can design their own majors with the help of the faculty and staff of the school. They can also contract for the degree they want to receive. According to Dean Varney, General Studies is probably better than most schools who have the liberal degree requirements. ate apartment just npus. We have two ourt, and much, iore information. ft and Lucas olumbia Thomson Student Health Center University of South Carolina ent Health Center services r who will not be enrolled ontinue their Health Care ier by paying a health fee. ~e Student Health Service ation for summer health Health Services is offered result of student request. CLfEAfTH BROOKS ession in the historic Phursday, April24, on d Human Nature in ie discussion is sponsored terary Society and a irdl flonr, '7:00 PM