Making
the Case
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> Making the Case
> Personal Attention to Students
> Engaging Classroom Experiences
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The classroom experience tends to be more active, engaging, and rigorous at independent colleges than at public universities, with more small discussion-oriented classes, more writing assignments and presentations, and more discussions including a consideration of different values and ethics and the perspectives of women and minorities.
Fact 1 - Small Classes
Sixty-two percent of independent college alumni surveyed are four times
as likely as public alumni to say they benefited very much from many small
classes with fewer than 20 students.
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Fact 2 - Extensive Classroom Discussions
Independent college alumni surveyed are more likely than public university
alumni to say their experience often included extensive classroom discussions
(74 percent vs. 48 percent).
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Fact 3 - Integration of Values and Ethics
Independent college alumni surveyed are twice as likely as public university
alumni to say their experience integrated values and ethics in classroom
discussions (62 percent vs. 29 percent).
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Fact 4 - Different Perspectives
Half of the independent college alumni surveyed say that their classroom
discussions include the perspectives of women and minorities, compared
with only 34 percent of the public university alumni.
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Fact 5 - Academic Challenge
Both first-year and senior independent college and university students
report writing more papers and spending more time outside of class in
preparation than first-year and senior public university students. For
instance, 57 percent of first-year students at independent colleges report
having to read more than ten assigned books or book-length packs of course
readings, compared with 42 percent of the first-year public university
students.
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Fact 6 - Collaborative and Interactive
Learning
Independent college and university students perceive their classrooms
to be more collaborative and interactive than students at public institutions.
For instance, 77 percent of seniors at independent colleges ask questions
in class or contribute to class discussions compared with 67 percent of
public seniors.
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Fact 7 - Emphasis on Writing
Independent college alumni surveyed are more likely than public university
alumni to have been graded on essay exams or written reports (65 percent
vs. 47 percent).
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These materials reference the themes and topics addressed in the above facts and data, serving as a helpful resource on how presidents and others are making the case for independent higher education.
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Speeches and Addresses |
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Lawrence D. Bryan, MacMurray College - September 24, 2004 Dennis Rittenmeyer, Calumet College of St. Joseph - August 25, 2004 Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, Sweet Briar College - August 25, 2004 Roger Casey, Rollins College - August 23, 2002 |
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