Reflection #5

If I were to design a new university from the ground up what would it be like? :) I would have the best professors ever. While I feel that it is great to have professors with a great background in their own education it does not necessarily make the professor a better teacher. I want people who will teach my students. I also understand that just because you have background in a certain area that does not mean that you should be teaching that subject at a college. Well to that effect I think that co-teaching is a great way to go. This could be an issue because adults may not be used to this method of teaching and working together. But, I feel that it opens us up to know what it feels like once again to be in college. We all keep learning no matter where we are and what we are doing so I believe that this will give the professors a greater understanding of what the students are going through. Although the professors may have experienced college life before we do often forget what we do not need to worry about any longer. We could have a team of someone who has a degree in what the subject is as well as experience in teaching the subject. The other professor will have experience in field work on the subject and/or a heavy background in personal participation in the subject. I feel that this is the best way to reach students from a position on leadership touching on how we get people to listen and follow. This will help us to encourage the heart, enable others to act, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, as well as model the way. And this is just the beginning!
While it is the opinion of the individual whether there is enough diversity on the campus I feel that there needs to be a lot of diversity, whatever it may be to you.
I would also have more themed housing.
Overall I believe that an institution of higher education should be concentrated more than it is. The old fashioned idea of a higher education institution is a class of maybe five people who meet in a relaxed setting and have intellectual discussions. These days we dismiss this idea as too informal or not of a true learning setting. I'd like to bring that back. I love that Chatham is a small institution but not small enough. I'd like to bring to the table an idea of a small institution without making it feel that we are elite and exclusive. To have a laid back environment where you learn more because the professor is able to pay more attention to their students. This gives the student an opportunity to have a meaningful relationship with their professor. A personal relationship is not necessarily a negative effect to professionalism. It gives students a reason to be more interested in school.
Also, I do not see the need to take so many classes at one time. It is said that if you are trying to be good at one thing essentially you will never master anything. I think that this fully applies to classwork as well. While we should have to take classes in many different areas is there a reason that we really need to take them all at once? I did not think so.
The location is essential. I feel that a place that provides enough of a getaway is great. I farm setting that can easily be accessed but at the same time does not provide such an easy escape.
I just to create a place that feels like a real home. Not a house with nothing inside. A home with people who are willing to change and make their new house a home both in academics and in social aspects.