New Directions

Volume 1 | Issue 1 Article 6

11-1-1973

University Without Walls: A Novel Approach toHigherEducationAbdulkadir N. Said

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Recommended CitationSaid, Abdulkadir N. (1973) "University Without Walls: A Novel Approach to HigherEducation," New Directions: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article6.Available at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol1/iss1/6

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Said: University Without Walls: A Novel Approach to HigherEducation

Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 1973

UniversityWithoutWalls:A Novel ApproachTo Higher Education

At age 43 and a successful career in afield that rewards him with a lucrative five-figure annual salary, Howard S. Gloydhardly fits the picture of a candidate foran undergraduate degree in sociology.Nor does Ruth B. Powers, a 40-year-oldregistered nurse and candidate for a de-gree in Allied Health Sciences, or LloydLacy, Chief Security Officer for HowardUniversity and candidate for a degree inbusiness administration.

Yet the three decided sometime ago toeam college credentials by enrolling ina unique and innovative approach to acollege degree, the University WithoutWalls (UWW)-a new concept to highereducation that allows working persons todevote fuII-time to thei r employment wh iIecompleting requirements for a degreethrough independent study and research.And, atthei r own pace.

The UWW concept was introduced tothe nation three years ago at selectedcolleges and universities to provide ma-ture adults with a chance to eam collegecredentials.

At Howard University, the UWW waslaunched in the Fall of 1971. The initialenrollment of five students has increasedto 100 men and women of varying agesand professions, all of them baccalau-reate degree candidates.

The Howard UWW is headed for suc-cess. A year after it began, it graduatedone of the first students to enroll, 71-year-old Eugene Dynner, perhaps the oldeststudent ever to eam a degree at Howard.Mr. Dynner received the Bachelor of Artsin Art History in June, 1972,after one yearof study. He concentrated in Chinese Ele-ments in Maya Art under the supervisionof the College of Fine Arts. Four more stu-dents in political science, art, sociologyand education graduated this year.

A New Concept in Higher Education

At first it was just an idea. Then a plan.Now the University Without Walls. TheUWWconcept is a revolutionary approachto adult higher education. Its popularity isincreasing each year.

At Howard, Iike the others in the country,the UWWis part of a consortium of severalinstitutions of higher education under theumbrella of the Union of ExperimentingColleges and Universities at Antioch Col-lege, Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Nationally, more than 3,000 men andwomen-some successful in businessand other fields-are enrolled as UWWstudents at 23 colleges and universitiescoast-to-coast.

Besides Howard, the other institutionsparticipating in this experiment in educa-tion include, Morgan State College, Bal-timore, Md.; University of California,Berkeley; Skidmore College, SaratogaSprings, NY.; and Goddard College,Plainfield, Vt,

The Howard UWW-which waslaunched with a $40,000 joint grant by theFord Foundation and the U.S. Office ofEducation but is now funded through theUniversity budget- is the only one of itskind in Washington, D.C.

"All of the students in our program areself-directed, well-motivated individualswho have crystal ized their thoughts andare able to articulate their educa-tional goals." said Mrs. Anita E.Hackney,Director.

Designed as an "experiment in indi-vidual instruction," the UWW allowsstudents to attend c lasses onIywhen nec-cessary, for audit or credit purposes. Thefocus is not on traditional classroom in-struction but rather on independent learn-ing, internships, apprenticeships, fieldwork or research in areas of interest toeach student.

The students are trained in an atmos-phere that offers "a mixture of learningactivities, including seminars,workshops,community projects or field work," Mrs.Hackney explained. As an example, shecited one Howard student who spentthree weeks in Europe researching urbanproblems for a class project.

All UWWstudents, Mrs. Hackney noted,are encouraged to learn from every con-ceivable experience of benefit to theirstated goals.

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Students meet frequently with their advisors toreview progress they made. as in this scene of ameeting between Howard Gloyd and his advisor.Dr. John Rier, Associate Dean of the GraduateSchool. Standing next to Gloyd is Anita Hackney.

Ruth Powers, a registered nurse who is pursuing adegree in Allied Health Sciences. is one of fewUniversity employees enrolled in UWW.

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"This is a different kind ot college eau-cation. It is not a cure-all concept. It pro-vides an alternate means for those whowant a college degree," Mrs. Hackneyexplained.

"The University Without Walls is aninnovative approach to an undergraduatedegree, which does not have the usualspatial and temporal limits and does notconsider the classroom to be the princi-pal instrument of instruction. For theclassroom, we utilize the city, the nationand the world," she emphasized.

Mrs.Hackney said the UWWisdesignedfor: "self-directed, well-motivated studentsencompassing a broad citizenry of allages, backgrounds and interests." Andthose accepted to participate usually areindividuals who have demonstrated theability to benefit from this newest ap-proach to a college degree.

Some of the participants, like Mr. Gloydor Mr. Lacy, are individuals who haveachieved success by sheer determinationand hard work in a society where the in-dividual's worth most often is measuredby scholastic achievement first, abilitysecond. Hence the need for a college de-

gree. Some are individuals who have notyet ascended to the top of the occupa-tional ladder but feel they need universityeducation to reach the upper echelon ofthei r occupation.

When Mr. Gloyd was asked if a collegedegree was necessary to prove his abilityand competency, he replied: "I don't needit (the degree), but the Establishmentneeds it. For a person like me to stay inbusiness, I have to demonstrate that Ihave been accredited by an institution. Ihave worked in the field of social work forover 20 years but never had a chance tosolidify that background with an aca-demic degree."

Mr. Gloyd, a former Methodist minister,now works as youth training director for anational organization with headquartersin Washington, D.C. He said the UWWrepresents "a realm of reality because ofits clear objectives."

Eligibility and Acceptance

Who is eligible for the UWW? Anyonewithout a formal college degree, includ-ing students already in college.

To be accepted, the applicant must

state a definite goal; demonstrate matur-ity, show ability, and above a", be de-termined.

Acceptance in the program is not basedon test scores. But each appl icant mustpresent a planned program of study in thearea of concentration relevant to thestated goal, and enter into a "contract"with the UWW.

Each application to the UWW is re-viewed thoroughly by Mrs. Hackney (withthe help of her administrative staff) andfaculty-University officials associatedwith the UWWbefore it is approved.

All accepted students are required toattend the admissions workshop, followedby individual interviews by teams of ad-visors, students already enrolled in theUWW,members of the University WithoutWalls Advisory Committee and the UWWfaculty.

The student begins the study programafter the "contract" is accepted and ap-proved by the Director and Deans ofSchools or Colleges. An official log inwhich all program-related activities arerecorded is kept by the student and isreviewed regularly by the advisor. 3

Said: University Without Walls: A Novel Approach to HigherEducation

Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 1973

Lloyd Lacy wears two hats at Howard, that of ChiefSecurity Officer and that of a student in the UniversityWithout Walls.

Applications and correspondence are handled bythe administrative staff, such as Janet Walker, seenhere assisting Gloyd.

The degree is awarded after the com-pleted work is accepted by a reviewingcommittee. Depending on each student'sinitiative, background and work schedule,a year or more of study is required forgraduation. The UWN tuition is the sameas that of the open university (full time)program.

The FutureThe future of the UWN at Howard seems

to be bright. According to Mrs. Hackney,more students are expected to enroll inthe future. The expansion of the UWN willdepend on the number of faculty advisorsavailable, she pointed out.

''The academic community thus far hasbeen gracious in assisting us. Witnessthe growing number of advisors who havewelcomed this new challenge," sheexplained.

"We need commitments from additionalfaculty members to enable us to offer thesupport system vital to the growth anddevelopment of each student," she em-phasized.

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Abdulkadir N. Said-

The UWW made it possible for Marian Jones tocontinue working full-time as a secretary whileearning a psychology degree.

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New Directions, Vol. 1 [1973], Iss. 1, Art. 6

http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol1/iss1/6