Van Pelt offers innovative academics

College sophomore Kristen Ludwig always wanted to learn American Sign Language. But the language is not officially offered at the University as a credited course. However, she now has the opportunity to learn the subject in a relaxed environment -- without the added tensions of grades and academic credit. The sign language class is one of several mini-courses Van Pelt College House has begun to offer its residents. The mini-course program was initiated last semester when Gary Capone, who graduated from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences last semester, wanted to take more varied classes than his Engineering program allowed. He approached Van Pelt residential advisor Amy Hodgson, a Graduate School of Education student who has taught at the University in the past, to discuss the possibility of developing in-residence courses that could expand upon the University's academic opportunities. "I believed in it from the start," Hodgson said. "It's a learning experience for everybody." This semester, faculty members and graduate students are teaching five mini-courses to Van Pelt residents. Some of these classes will meet three or four times this semester, while others plan only one meeting. But they all present unique learning opportunities that students say they cannot get from standard University courses. "The whole idea is to give an opportunity for students who live in the house to take some courses not necessarily affiliated with school," Sociology graduate student and Van Pelt Graduate Fellow Cathleen Riddley said. "We want them to get together, to have some fun and to learn about something they might want to learn about." Riddley, who is teaching the sign language class, said the program helps her just as much as it helps the undergraduate residents of the house. Between 40 and 70 students have participated in the classes over the course of the semester. And students who have chosen to take the mini-courses have said the classes fulfill one of the central purposes of the college house. "Van Pelt College House [means] more community living -- it emphasized learning outside of the classroom in general," Wharton senior William Barry said. "There is a definite core of people who want to live in the house and the people who want to do things like this." College sophomore Nick Picardo, who helped to organize this semester's mini-courses, said the program's other benefits include low time commitment and no outside work loads. "It doesn't entail a lot of stress," Picardo said. "And it's a neat way to use the resources we have in Van Pelt -- especially our in-house faculty." Senior Faculty Resident and Design of the Environment Department Chairperson Marco Frascari taught an architecture class last semester and noticed a great variety of students taking the course. "Some students were from completely different fields [such as] Wharton and Engineering," he said. "I was able to learn more from their different perspectives." Some mini-courses provide smaller versions of courses offered by the University. Medical School Associate Dean of Student Affairs Helen Davies, who also lives in Van Pelt, teaches "Infectious Diseases," a course also taught on the University level. "In my regular course, students are responsible for presentations and coursework," she said. "In the mini-course, I do all of it. "I only ask that students come prepared to ask questions," she added. Both faculty and students said the mini-courses bring the residents of Van Pelt College House together more than they were before the program began. "We've really improved upon getting people to come together and interact," Ludwig said. "We now have a community, with faculty totally involved." Barry said the mini-courses are examples of what differentiates Van Pelt from other University facilities. "People always confuse us with the library," he said. "Here, you have the means of making a community within a large campus -- the theme is diversity and it's a very diverse culture." Picardo said he hopes the mini-course program will expand next year to allow undergraduates living in Van Pelt to teach some of the classes.