Members of the Class of 2013 Choose the Rollins Plan

On the brisk evening of October 19, more than 100 students, faculty, and staff gathered behind the Cornell Fine Arts Museum to celebrate their interest in the Rollins Plan. Students accepted into the Rollins Plan met with program coordinators and faculty to learn more about the next steps in entering into this exciting new general education curriculum.

The Rollins Plan is a series of seven courses built around a “big idea,” and is an alternative method for satisfying general education requirements. The Rollins Plan follows the tradition of curricular innovation that the College has been recognized for throughout its 124-year history. The goal of the Rollins Plan is to teach students to think critically, problem-solve, and learn how to integrate learning experiences from across disciplines. Rollins Plan courses will engage students in applied learning both in and outside of the classroom as well as empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the greatest issues facing the 21st century.

When speaking about the Rollins Plan, Mark Anderson, professor of mathematics and Rollins Plan faculty liaison said that work for a new general education curriculum began at Rollins over three years ago. “The idea of the Rollins Plan wasn’t one person’s vision. It has been a process of gathering ideas developed from research, campus colloquies, and proposals involving faculty committees and students.”

The two Rollins Plan curriculums that members of the Class of 2013 chose from are Global Challenges: Florida and Beyond and Revolution.  As participants in the Rollins Plan, first-year students are asked to commit to the program for the next four years.

Nick Brown (Class of 2013) became interested in participating in the Rollins Plan because he is a Florida native. Brown said, “I believe that Global Challenges will help me learn just how important my home state is.”

Faculty are also enthusiastic about the Rollins Plan program. “I like the in-depth design and integrated approach to the Rollins Plan,” said Professor of Biology Paul Stephenson. “It avoids the age-old problem of students of different years, with ranges of abilities, enrolling in the same general education classes. The Rollins Plan forms one cohesive group of students focused on a big idea.”

“The Rollins Plan is very developmental,” said Professor of Biology Judy Schmalstig, who will teach a class in the Global Challenges: Florida and Beyond plan. “As teachers and students, we get to collaborate together to work on issues. I’m really excited about teaching and being part of the Rollins Plan program.”

Rollins Plan students will spend the rest of the fall semester participating in learning assessments and preparing for spring course registration. Students in each Rollins Plan will also be engaging in team-building activities.

Visit the Rollins Plan Web site to learn more about this next great academic tradition at Rollins.

-Mary Neville (Class of 2013)