The College of Charleston is in full swing for the 2011-2012 academic year with more than 3,000 new students who come from 42 states and 13 countries.
Here is a look at some of the changes you’ll see for fall 2011:
The Department of Computer Science has added a new BA, Computing in the Arts, starting Fall 2011. CITA is interdisciplinary with a blend of courses offered by computer science, music, art history, studio art, and theatre and four synthesis courses. CITA provides a true liberal arts and sciences experience – students learn how to combine creativity in the arts with the theory and skills of computing. CITA is a model curriculum supported by the National Science Foundation and Google. More information.
The College is now offering a special tuition rate for high school dual-enrollment courses (as approved by the Board of Trustees). The first course to be offered is CSCI 220 “Computer Programming I” which will be offered to students at Porter Gaud. Dual-enrollment allows qualified high school students to earn college credit while also satisfying high school diploma requirements. College courses may be taught by College faculty in local high schools or students may enroll in classes on campus if seats are available. More information.
The College of Charleston now has new bilateral agreements with Fudan University, China (with an emphasis on business, economics, finance, Math, Chinese language and culture), Xiamen University, China (with an emphasis on business, economics, chinese language and culture), University of Cape Coast, Ghana (open to all disciplines), and National Kaohsiung Normal University, Republic of China, Taiwan (with an emphasis on education, math, Chinese language and culture).
The 2011-12 academic year will be the first in which courses will be offered year-round at our facilities in Trujillo, Spain. This fall, the Departments of Political Science and Communication will run a new study abroad program focused on intercultural communication and Spain’s geography and politics. In spring and summer the Departments of Biology and Hispanic Studies host programs. Participating students live with local host families to immerse themselves in the Spanish experience in a spectacular walled medieval city in Extremadura. More information.
The computer science department has added a fourth partner university that allows students to study abroad for a semester at no additional cost. Students can study in France, Austria and Italy, and now in Kaohsiung, Taiwan at the National Kaohsiung Normal University. More information.
The College is now using a new, powerful, web-based early alert system for student progress. MAP-Works combines a student’s survey responses with demographic data such as high school GPA and SAT scores, and later with mid-term grades and semester grades to determine the student’s risk of failing academically or dropping out of school. Each student will receive a dashboard defining his strengths and weaknesses, and pointing him to campus resources that will help him succeed. All staff members connected to that student such as academic advisors and residence hall directors will also have a dashboard from which they can access the information about the students to whom they are connected so they can intervene in appropriate ways to help the students overcome academic, social and personal challenges.
The College’s first commemoration of Women’s Equality Day will be held on August 25, 2011. This event, co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services and the Women’s and Gender Studies program, will include a Women’s Equality Day Pane on Marriage. Despite progress in the women’s equality movement, women of all races, religions and backgrounds still struggle to be seen as “equals” and to not be seen as “minorities”. Discussing the significance of marriage, its origins, its evolution, and how women are redefining what it means to be in a committed relationship today is one way to motivate women to challenge the expectations placed upon them by society, and hopefully embrace their individuality and the power to make their own choices with regards to career, children, family and relationships. More information.
The College’s Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development has launched several new non-credit programs. These programs include an English Language Institute, Information Technology certifications and customized continuing education seminars for businesses and organizations. More information.
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, located within the School of the Arts has started the Looking to See guided tour program, which offers free tours of current exhibitions to any area students or organizations. The guided group tours of Halsey Institute exhibitions are an extension of the Institute’s education and outreach initiative. The free tours are led by knowledgeable volunteers and can be tailored to different lengths and group sizes. The program is open to all elementary, middle, and high schools, church groups and other area organizations. Gallery lessons can be customized to follow specific classroom course objectives as the Looking to See tour guides are well versed in exhibition content and eager to collaborate with educators. The guides use open dialogue as an exchange of memorable ways to experience works of art. They encourage group conversations about the objects in the exhibition. More information.
The Halsey Institute is also starting a Community Partners program this fall. It is an opportunity for an organization to align their brand with the innovative and vibrant contemporary art culture in our community. The organization will receive the perks and privileges of a HICA membership and the marketing benefits of a sponsorship. By becoming a Partner of the Halsey Institute, local businesses and organizations will not only provide annual support of HICA’s exhibitions and programming, but they will have the rare opportunity to share their brand with our diverse demographic of students, artists, art educators and art lovers. More information.
