March 27, 2008
Columbia U. Alumni Head Back to Class
The Columbia College Alumni Association is giving its members a chance to take some of the same classes that current students take in the core curriculum, as way to reconnect them to their alma mater, the Columbia Spectator reports.
Mini classes in contemporary civilization, frontiers of sciences, and in art, music, and literature humanities are taking place in New York and Washington for $150 for three sessions.
“The mini-courses try to take the essence of the core and apply it to the reality of the world for alumni,” said Ken Catandella, executive director of alumni affairs.
Columbia is in the middle of a $4-billion fund-raising campaign, and although officials told the newspaper that the program is not intended to secure donations from alumni, it could result in some rekindled good will toward their alma mater.
“This really is a relational activity, although I suspect that happy alums and engaged alums are more likely to be donors,” Mr. Catandella said. “In that respect, I imagine it’s connected. It’s not really an outcrop of the campaign.”
Erin Strout | Posted on Thursday March 27, 2008 | Permalink
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