Since our students and faculty are committed to only one course at a time, they have a flexibility that allows for educational creativity and opportunities nearly impossible elsewhere . Sometimes classes meet for several short sessions in one day, others meet only a few times a week, creating extra time for reading and research . Sometimes they convene at the breakfast table in a professor's home or at midnight in the observatory. And alternating class times is just the beginning. Combine the flexibility of the Block Plan with the vast natural laboratory of the Rocky Mountains and desert Southwest , and you've got limitless opportunities for field study.
Professors often hold classes off campus - for a day, a week, sometimes an entire block.
The college-owned cabin , situated in a rugged mountain setting, is just 45 minutes from campus, while the Baca , located about 3 hours away, is near the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the San Luis Valley. Since there's no worry about missing other classes, you and your professors can venture farther afield , exploring everything from Mesa Verde to Caribbean coral reefs. We're also excited about a new program for first-year students , which began in the fall of 2000. Through the program, during the first two blocks, all first-year students will take a set of courses with a common theme , such as order and chaos, power, frontiers, or identities. You'll begin your college experience by learning critical reading, effective writing, and research skills , mentored by juniors and seniors who will work with faculty to build bridges and help advise you and other new students.