college tours

by Mark Hofer Mark Hofer No Comments

School Culture?

Who creates a school’s culture? Given that the first tenet of modern psychology is: “Human behavior is consistent and predictable,” school culture has traditionally been created through decades of consistently modeled student behaviors. But what happens when culture cannot be observed or modeled?

“We seldom realize, for example, that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by society.” — Alan W. Watts

High school and college administrators recognize there is an opportunity to create an entirely new school culture every four years. Administration can strategically guide and encourage the behaviors of entering freshman who will be role models for the next year’s class. Rinse and repeat for three years and you can develop a new school culture. But what if upper classmen are not present to model the accepted, promoted, and perpetuated cultural norms?

“Cultures grow on the vine of tradition.”– Jonah Goldberg

Here’s a thought: What if schools are unable to open in 2021? Given the current trends, this is not inconceivable—actually, it is more probable each day. But what would that situation look like and what kind of impact would it have on school culture?

A majority of this year’s college freshman will not “go” to college. They are experiencing college academics virtually, without any exposure to campus culture or traditions. In addition, last year’s freshman were on campus for six months or less. That wasn’t enough time to find the best grilled cheese sandwiches and gelato, yet alone learn why a class starting before 8:00 a.m. is a rookie mistake. For all intents and purposes, in September of 2021, half of all college students will have no personal experience with the culture of the school they have “attended” for two years. In addition, upper classmen will have been absent from the campus for two years and clueless about what upper classmen are supposed to do, because they haven’t had anyone model those behaviors for them. Then—hopefully— there will be a full reboot of colleges and universities in September of 2022.

“If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”
— Albert Einstein

In 2022, three years of students—freshman, sophomores, and juniors—may join seniors on campuses. However, many seniors will have been absent from campus for two years and be completely unpracticed in modeling the ways of the school and its culture. Juniors were only on campus for six months, and then away from the school for two years. And freshman and sophomores will be completely ignorant about the school’s culture. Also keep in mind that most sophomores and freshmen never even visited their school for a campus tour during COVID. What do you call this? An opportunity.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” — Robert Frost

Never before have students had such an opportunity to develop the culture of their schools. This cultivation will be happening at nearly three thousand schools across the United States—and in other countries. Untangled and freed from the shackles of tradition and circumstance, the question is…who creates a school’s culture? Who will lead? Administration? Professors? Students?

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay

by Mark Hofer Mark Hofer No Comments

The Honor Code

I just returned from the land of over a thousand, small, outstanding, liberal-arts colleges. I believe it is called… Minnesota. Okay, that might be hyperbole, but Minneapolis is loaded with academic opportunity. Think of Boston, but with wheat fields and friendly cows. While I found the landscape beautiful, the people incredibly friendly, and the cheese sublime, one thing definitely stood out.

by Mark Hofer Mark Hofer No Comments

Colleges in the East…of Washington…State.

I just returned from touring a few of the fine colleges and universities of Eastern Washington and Idaho. As usual, I made a point to look for the best grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream offerings at each school. In addition, I found out that the University of Idaho’s sororities really are more about community service than social cliques, Washington State University’s campus continues to grow and get more beautiful, and Whitman College’s student body is comprised of nearly 10% international students and has a campus bike shop. A few other pieces of important information:

  • Washington State University’s campus is really hilly, especially when it is 90*! It takes close to 30 minutes to saunter from one end to the other, but it is a very pretty walk.
  • The University of Idaho participates in the  WICHE/WUE tuition relief program (- $13,651) with WA State students. The school also has great grilled cheese sandwiches at Joe’s Cheesy Grill, and bacon is less than a buck extra. However, be warned, the campus and Moscow, in general, is a desert when it comes to good ice cream.
  • Whitman College is offering a leadership scholarship (Paul Garrett & Claire Sherwood Scholarship) and is trying to get the word out. If you have the background and evidence to compete for this scholarship… apply soon! Whitman does offer an Early Decision application process.
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