University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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RC Students Defy Myth of People Are Strange East Quad? Isn ' t that where the Residential College (RC) is? Those RC students are, um, weird. Putting this misconception aside revealed the true facts about the RC, a place where creative students were given the responsibility to shape and nurture their own education as well as express their ideas and talents. Established in 1967, the Residential College was created by LS A and offered a four-year B.A. and B.S. degree program. Initially, the RC was deemed a radical part of the University since students were politically and socially RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE active. This interest on the part of the RC students was seen as an o ddity by outsiders. In time, however, students realized the radicalism was really no more than an intense intellectual curiousity, and eventually the RC became a popular and respected part of the University community. It is true that we attract students who are independently minded and creative. But students select the RC...we don ' t select them. We don ' t have the admissions selection process. Anybody who is accepted by LS A can come to the RC as a [first-year] student if he or she marks the box on the application, said Gerlinde Lindy, coordinator of academic services in the RC. Students select themselves and the only limitation we have is space in the dorm. Space, both physical and intellectual, was a prominent theme within the RC. Class sizes were small, allowing 800 RC students one-on-one interplay with their professors. This interaction often allowed RC students the opportunity to cultivate their own interests and talents. [RC students] are willing to take the responsibility for their own education, said Lindy. That ' s exactly what we try to encourage students to do: to participate in their education. The classes the RC students were allowed to choose from were as diverse as the interests of the individual students. Everything from intensive language programs to social sciences to natural sciences was offered. Many believed the RC offered only A liberal arts curriculum; however, all of the courses were geared for critical thinking and analysis, which greatly developed the student ' s bullshit detector . I wanted to balance my analytical science classes with the liberal arts classes, said Maggi LaPietra, a science concentrator and graduate of the RC. I think a good scientist must have a strong background in humanities as well as science . Indeed, many of the classes reflected current social issues and theories, like Introduction to Global Change and AIDS: The Challenge to Society . Students did not receive letter grades for their classes; instead, first and second year students received individual evaluations from their professors with pass fail indicators. This system was designed to reduce classroom competition and emphasize individual achievement and progress. Upper-class RC students had the choice of whether or not to receive a letter grade, accompanied by an evaluation. The evaluations resembled mini-recommendations. As LaPietra explained, They say more than a letter grade can; they heightened my abilites, my positive attitude and my work ethic. And I enjoyed the challenge of independence. I had to find my own path . 1 10 Academics By Elyse Hardebeck

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J Idar Salikhov and Suzanne Czurylo enhanced their language skills by watching foreign educational videotapes. Steve Qoldstein JL he Language Resource Center stood open for students to take advantage of foreign language audio and video tapes. Steve Qoldstein Academics 109

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M ike Rodriguez, a School of Natural Resources junior learned about electronics and circuitry in the Residential College ' s Everyday Physics class. -Josh Sohn .A. he Residential College dealt with many diverse interests, such as literature, science, and arts. -Josh Sohn i Academics 111