Last month, in the valley of Chenango, gathered 47 Colgate alumni, parents, and friends. Leaving behind jobs, bills, and Glee reruns, they became students again, taking classes with some of the university’s leading professors during Summer on the Hill, June 22-26.
This year marked the second edition of the increasingly popular program, which is designed to encourage intellectual engagement with the university and give the Colgate community a chance to relive the liberal arts experience.
Attendees chose from a menu of courses in the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. “I absolutely loved every minute,” said Jane Porter ’74. “I used neuro-connectors that may have been dormant for 30 years — I loved the class participation, and learned so much from the other alumni and friends.”
When Porter and her classmates weren’t proving that they’d done their homework, they were enjoying electives like yoga, rock climbing, strength conditioning, and Zumba. They were treated to a special night of Colgate-style trivia at the Colgate Inn, an improv comedy performance at the Palace Theater, and a unique conversation about African politics with President Jeffrey Herbst.
Though Summer on the Hill is still in its infancy, faculty have lined up for the opportunity to participate. Not only do they commit to class time; they prepare by retooling their traditional courses for this veteran audience.
“Working with people who have a lot of experience and have done a lot of things — faculty believe that we’re not so much the teachers anymore,” said philosophy professor David McCabe. “We’re co-discussants with smart, thoughtful people. I benefit from those conversations, and I look forward to them.”
Summer on the Hill returns again in 2012, giving liberal arts aficionados everywhere something to anticipate.