Earlham College | News from Public Affairs

Earlham School of Religion Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Lonnie Valentine (left) engages Explore-A-College students in his class “Peace Studies: Nonviolence for Fun and Prophet.” Since 9/11, says EAC Director Susan Hillmann, there’s been a growing interest among high school students in peace studies, leading to the addition of Valentine’s class to the EAC course list this year.

RICHMOND, Ind. — A typical teenager’s conception of college life usually is a romantic fantasy of freedom from parents and rules, mixed with an alluring vision of reckless partying, sleeping in and eating pizza for breakfast. Too often the important responsibilities that come with living alone — especially in the context of college, with its attending academic requirements — are overlooked.

Since 1982, Earlham College’s Explore-A-College (EAC) program has sought to give high-achieving high school students an advance peek into some of the more realistic aspects of campus life, in the process of making the point that success in college requires hard work, good judgment and many long nights with a book, rather than a Bud Light, in hand.

This year, according to Director Susan Hillmann, 65 students from 20 states and Japan are enrolled for the two-week EAC term. Through July 2 they will participate in classes ranging from Aquatic Ecology to Metalsmithing to Writing for College, and upon completion of the program each will receive two semester hours of college credit.

Nicole Blair and her Aquatic Ecology class

Adjunct Professor of Biology Nicole Blair discusses an interesting find with her Aquatic Ecology students during a field trip to one of the many streams that crisscross Earlham's approximately 600-acre back campus.

“We think it’s a very good way for students to get to know Earlham as a college, but also to have something of the broader experience of what life might be like at any college, in terms of things like developing time management skills, so that they eventually enter the college process with a little less fear,” says Hillmann, also assistant dean of admissions at Earlham. “As with anything, you’re able to do a better job if you’re not afraid. So hopefully, it (participating in EAC) takes away some of the fear factor students may have about their first year at college.”

While in years past the program has attracted upwards of 100 students, Hillmann — in her first year as EAC director — is happy with the number of students on campus this summer. “It’s a nice size group,” she says, “especially in terms of getting to know the students as individuals.”

For the future, however, Hillmann says she’d like to see EAC average between 80 and 85 students, which from a cost-benefit standpoint would allow the program to promote an even greater variety of courses and activities.

Also being offered this summer are recurring classes in conversational Spanish, Japanese, human behavior and journalism, as well as two new courses: “People and Power in the Middle East” taught by Professor of History Chuck Yates and “Peace Studies: Nonviolence for Fun and Prophet” led by Earlham School of Religion Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Lonnie Valentine.

“Each year we try to determine from what we see coming in on our applications to the College what kinds of things high school students are interested in and then carefully decide on our Explore-A-College offerings” explains Hillmann. “There’s been great interest in peace studies, especially since 9-11, so we really wanted to offer a peace class this year.”

Heather Mathewson came from Portland, Ore., to be involved in the new peace studies class. Although there is “a lot of work,” she says she’s enjoying the in-class discussions and listening to different perspectives on various peace-related issues. Meanwhile, Caleb Maupin of Orville, Ohio, says he signed up for the class “because I’m into changing the world.”

Also new to the EAC program in 2005 are a number of extra and co-curricular activities routinely enjoyed by regular Earlham students, including a “Movie Night” with Earlham President Doug Bennett and an academic convocation featuring Professor of Psychology Vince Punzo speaking on the “Philosophy of Friendship: Lessons on Being a Good Friend.”

“Convocation is such a vital part of life at Earlham,” Hillmann says of an event that occurs every other Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters at the College, introducing students to many distinguished speakers and performers presenting a wide range of ideas and artistic forms. “We definitely wanted our Explore-A-College students to have the same kind of experience, and we’re really excited that Vince Punzo, who gave the baccalaureate address at our Commencement this year, is going to do it.”

Indeed, the involvement of regular Earlham faculty in the College’s yearly summer session for high school students is something that Hillmann feels distinguishes EAC from similar programs run by other colleges and universities around the country.

“A lot of schools offer summer programs for high-achieving high school kids,” says Hillmann. “But, Earlham is fairly unique in that our regular professors teach the classes. Elsewhere, in many cases, assistants or people brought in from ‘outside’ do the teaching.”

Though not concerned primarily with being a vehicle for recruiting prospective four-year students to Earlham, Hillmann says many EAC participants have found themselves sufficiently attracted by the quality of the College’s academic program, as well as to the beauty of the campus, its “relaxed” environment and close-knit sense of community that a fair share have ended up actually applying for admission — enough, in fact, that EAC now produces one of the highest “yields” of all of the College’s Admissions-administered activities each year.

Of the roughly 320 first-year students expected to arrive on campus in August, Hillmann says 18 of them are past EAC participants.

Current teaching assistant Christopher Richmond, who will graduate from Earlham next May, attended EAC during the summer of 2000, when he was a sophomore in high school. He took the Writing for College course with English Professor Kari Kalve (the course is taught this year by Associate Professor of French Aletha Stahl) and describes the experience as “life changing.”

“I thought it was really fun and I met lots of people I stayed in touch with for a long time,” recalls Richmond, adding those new relationships helped him to become more outgoing and more comfortable with himself.

“Explore-A-College gave me a lot of confidence that I didn’t have,” Richmond says, “and through that experience I also learned that friendliness is universal.”

Whether a particular EAC student decides to attend Earlham or head somewhere else for his or her higher education, Hillmann says the goal of everyone involved in the summer program is to encourage every participant to go to college.

“I hope that our students will take away from their experience the desire to go to college, to pursue that dream,” says Hillmann. “Even though it’s a lot of hard work and sometimes they might get tired, it’s worthwhile to explore all of the possibilities.”

Editor’s note: Explore-A-College journalism students Lauren Hetzler, Arisa Tagawa and Deena Zaru contributed the reporting for this article.

Contact:
Susan Hillmann, assistant dean of admissions and director of EAC
765/983-1330 — E-Mail Susan