What a weekend to be outside!
It was quite the treat this Saturday - I was able to join a field trip with our Enviromental Heritage class in Maine. The course is offered out of our
Rochester NH College, but it also includes some time outdoors.
The course is being taught by Dan Gardoqui, and it is safe to say that he is truly a Master-Teacher. As Executive Director of
White Pine Programs based in Cape Neddick Maine, Dan supplies a tremendous amount of passion, knowledge and experience in his teaching with Granite State students. He is well-known for field components in his courses - frankly, it is an aspect sought out by students. For adult college students, or students of any age, learning doesn't get any better than being outside, being active, and having a Master like Dan making science accessible.
We started our day atop Mt. Agamenticus, and ended up at the
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. It seems clear that potentially abstract notions about conservation, our environment, and public policy, are transformed during class time spent in this manner. As I have written before, the New Hampshire University System through Granite State, offers such a wealth of experienes for students. Be they online classes, weekend college classes, or classes that get students outdoors, it is thrilling to offer such a range of educational experiences.
Pics below!
View from atop Mt. Agamenticus (York, ME):
Inside the Wells National Esturaine Research Reserve (Wells, ME):
I continue to be amazed by the individuals that teach here at Granite State College. I'm pleased that this blog has provided an opportunity to trumpet news about so many of the unique people that contribute to learning at this wonderful New Hampshire State College.
Just the other day, Dr. William "Bill" Cuff popped by my office. To say Bill is interesting would be a true understatement. In addition to teaching behavioral science classes here at Granite State College, Bill teaches at
UNH, and is also heavily involved with service projects, through groups like
Danny's Team.
Bill was chatting with me about his upcoming class this Spring at our Portsmouth NH College - PSY 602, Theories of Personality. The structure of this class exemplifies the Granite State perspective on adult college education: it is a weekend-intensive that takes place over five Saturdays. Yes, Granite State offers affordable Bachelor degree programs, but weekend college classes also work for students with other obligations.
Bill is off to New Orleans and Mississipi next week for more service. As part of this trip he mentioned an opportunity to visit the hometown of Medgar Evers. His eyes were lit-up and intense, and I thought - right, so this is quite a person to have teaching here in our corner of the New Hampshire University System.
Twins!
With a colleague from our
Portsmouth NH College, we visited with one of our Faculty members that gave birth to twins this past fall. Dr. Angele Fauchier teaches behavioral science classes for Granite State College in Portsmouth and at our Rochester NH College. As Angele commented to me, being the parent of twins is her Human Development course come to life! Angele is also keeping a fantastic
blog that is incredibly educational. I was thrilled to hear Angele discuss incorporating her experiences as a parent of twins into her future teaching.
Aside from marveling at what it takes to care for twins, and of couse sleep patterns, we also discussed online classes for adults, and part time classes, and being a lifelong learning college. Yet what struck me about this visit, apart from holding Angele's wonderful children, and comparing parenting stories, was the very direct connection to adult college education. Dr. Fauchier is an excellent example of what our New Hampshire State College provides: it is quite valuable to learn in small classes, with accomplished faculty teaching from experience.
I just have to say it again - twins!
I had an interesting conversation with a student this evening at our
Portsmouth NH College. I asked about her experience taking adult college classes with Granite State College, and her response made me sit up and pay attention. Because I hire Faculty that teach in both Portsmouth and our
Rochester NH College, I was fascinated by her take on teaching at this particular NH State College. For her, the individuals that teach our adult college classes are "fresh."
I thought - well isn't that something for New Hampshire Colleges and Universities to consider. Granite State College does indeed have unique people in our classrooms bringing current, "fresh" and unique perspectives with them. I believe it was this student's view that our Faculty truly want to be in our classrooms, and offer a great deal.
This student asked me in return - so, what do I look for when I hire Faculty? Clearly I'll now be thinking about a "fresh" perspective. . .but rather than list particular qualities, I thought I would be specific. Whether you are interested in classes for early childhood education, or behavioral science or management, chances are, you might consider a Sociology class as part of your adult college degree. If that class is with Granite State College in either Rochester or Portsmouth, you could have the pleasure of hearing a "fresh" perspective from Dr.
Nena Stracuzzi. Take a listen
here to Nena talking about her research involving students from Northern New Hampshire. This is how we keep teaching at Granite State College fresh, and why I feel so fortunate to have individuals like Nena Stracuzzi as our Faculty.
An event this week captures the essence of adult higher education here at GSC. At our
Rochester NH College, our ENG 555, Children's Literature class hosted well known New Hampshire author and poet, Marie Harris. For those of us highly invested in adult college classes, the energy and enthusiasm from the the interaction between students and
Marie was incredible.
I have a great appreciation for all New Hampshire colleges and universities, but when you combine small seminar-style classes, the ability to meet and talk with former NH Poet Laureates, all through evening college classes, it adds up to a unique teaching and learning environment. We of course have adult online degrees, and yes, affordable Bachelors degrees, but there is something particular about this NH State College. I observed a particular dynamic between this noted children's book author and the students in Children's Literature. The questions, the intent look on each face, and the transformation of something abstract to something alive is why Granite State College is the college for lifelong learning, and the center of adult education.
G is for Granite (State College):
L - R:
John B. Cook, GSC Faculty Coordinator; Poet and Author Marie Harris; GSC Faculty Member Heidi Zollman
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