A Unique College - Nancy Federspiel, Director

Last week hurricane Ida and I were both visiting the state of North Carolina. I was there to tour college campuses and attend a conference. I'm not exactly sure why Ida was there and frankly, I wish she hadn't been. In spite of her company, I had the opportunity to tour seven colleges - including a culinary school where I was invited to sample the delicious fruits of the students' efforts. And, I was able to sit in on some talks about higher education that were both enlightening and inspiring. I always enjoy having the opportunity to talk about education - especially when it revolves around what is new and what is changing. On this particular trip I saw a college that is changing in leaps and bounds and is truly unique in the world of education.

This particular college campus felt more like a five star resort than a college campus with hot tubs, fires burning in the lobby of every building (a welcome sight because of Ida), a putting green, concierge services and fountains spouting at every turn. The dorm rooms housed double beds and had granite counters and cherry cabinets! I had to confirm with my fellow tour-mates that we were indeed at a University - was I on the right tour? I have visited hundreds of colleges and have never seen anything quite like this.

The new president who brought about the changes at this University met up with us along the tour to give explanation to counter our puzzled looks. He explained that they are indeed striving to make a very unique experience for their students. He believes that if a student is given a five-star educational experience, he or she will rise to the occasion and act like they deserve such an environment. He claims that you will never see one of their students throw a piece of trash or write a word of graffiti anywhere on his college campus. He says that they act appropriately to the environment they are given - and in this case it is a pristine, luxurious one and they act like the professionals that they are in training to become. Wow. This is a novel idea.

I was intrigued with the whole concept. On one hand it made so much sense - and unless the grounds crew was working double-time and around-the-clock, the five-star concept seemed to be working for them. On the other hand, does it spoil the students? Are they set up for disappointment when they graduate and have to live in a meager studio apartment someplace once their four years of resort living are over? Does it propagate our growing sense of entitlement for our arguably over-coddled twenty-somethings?

These are all interesting thoughts to ponder. As I sat on the plane ride back to Massachusetts, I realized that for me, the most important take-away was confirmation that there are so many unique and different colleges out there and that there is a school uniquely suited for all types of students. It is so important that we know that these unique places exist and that we keep visiting colleges to learn about their unique qualities. I was fired up about booking more college visits in the months and years to come. The only true downer of the trip was that when we landed, I realized that Ida had followed me home.