A federal grant of $143,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities that allowed UK to the Modern Studies Curriculum has expired, meaning UK must find money in its budget to continue the program.Global Studies Curriculum, another mini-college, is also in danger of having its funding eliminated because UK must pay for the programs.
The mini-colleges create a smaller university environment, providing students with smaller classes in order to form relationships more easily. The two-year programs allow students to finish most of their University Studies Program requirements in two years.
About 400 students are enrolled in the mini-colleges.
Modern Studies is an interdisciplinary, multi-cultural set of courses created from scratch around the theme of "Development of the Modern World."
Global studies is similar to Modern, with a concentration on integrating the classes.
Richard Edwards, dean of the college of Arts and Sciences, said no decision has been made as to what will happen to the colleges. Edwards said he will talk to faculty and administrators before making a decision.
Edwards would say only that he is "looking at options." He also declined to comment on the criteria for which the decision will be based.
No matter which decision is handed down, Edwards said this year's entering class will be able to finish the program.
Professors who teach the mini-college courses have found that the emphasis on written and oral communication is much better than in the regular courses they teach.
"These were spring semester freshmen and I thought their writing skills were much better than any section of (History) 105 I have ever taught," said Phil Harking, associate professor of history. "I think it's because they get so much attention from the instructors."
Jonathan Golding, director of Modern Studies 1993 and 1995, thinks the program has been successful, but said he does not have the data to prove the mini-college's success.
"We think in other ways ... they are achieving outside the program, but even that is difficult to quantify," Golding said.
The first students who went through the mini-colleges will graduate this year. Golding said the percentage of the students who graduate will be one of the items he will study.
"One of the things we want to see is the graduation rate of students who complete the program. Are our students graduating sooner? We won't know until the end of the year," he said.
Thomas Cogswell, associate professor of history, said he thinks there are more than ample opportunities to modify and correct the existing programs.
Students who were in the mini-college praised the programs and are clamoring for it to continue.
Winston Symmes, a political science senior and former Modern Studies student, is writing a letter to Edwards and Elisabeth Zinser, chancellor for the Lexington Campus, telling them about the advantages of the mini-colleges.
"I think there is much more to the mini-colleges than just a classroom setting," Symmes said. "I plan to talk about how it's helped my leadership abilities."
Wendy Davis, an undeclared junior, thinks she learned more in Global Studies than regular classes. "All of our classes were related, which I don't think you get that in larger-section," Davis said.
Psychology sophomore Shasta Walker said the mini-colleges present a good introduction to UK.
"After two years you'll see that college is nothing to be afraid of," Walker said.
While the two mini-colleges may be on the chopping block, a new program has been initiated, cohort scheduling. Cohort scheduling places students in the same classes. The three classes are English 101, History 108 and a humanity class.
The program emulates Brigham Young University's "Common Faces," which Edwards said has been successful there.
"I think it will have an impact on retention and satisfaction of quality of learning and essentially shortening the time to get a degree," Edwards said.
Three years after the first mini-college was created, funding for the program may be discontinued.
A federal grant of $143,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities that allowed UK to the Modern Studies Curriculum has expired, meaning UK must find money in its budget to continue the program.
Global Studies Curriculum, another mini-college, is also in danger of having its funding eliminated because UK must pay for the programs.
The mini-colleges create a smaller university environment, providing students with smaller classes in order to form relationships more easily. The two-year programs allow students to finish most of their University Studies Program requirements in two years.
About 400 students are enrolled in the mini-colleges.
Modern Studies is an interdisciplinary, multi-cultural set of courses created from scratch around the theme of "Development of the Modern World."
Global studies is similar to Modern, with a concentration on integrating the classes.
Richard Edwards, dean of the college of Arts and Sciences, said no decision has been made as to what will happen to the colleges. Edwards said he will talk to faculty and administrators before making a decision.
Edwards would say only that he is "looking at options." He also declined to comment on the criteria for which the decision will be based.
No matter which decision is handed down, Edwards said this year's entering class will be able to finish the program.
Professors who teach the mini-college courses have found that the emphasis on written and oral communication is much better than in the regular courses they teach.
"These were spring semester freshmen and I thought their writing skills were much better than any section of (History) 105 I have ever taught," said Phil Harking, associate professor of history. "I think it's because they get so much attention from the instructors."
Jonathan Golding, director of Modern Studies 1993 and 1995, thinks the program has been successful, but said he does not have the data to prove the mini-college's success.
"We think in other ways ... they are achieving outside the program, but even that is difficult to quantify," Golding said.
The first students who went through the mini-colleges will graduate this year. Golding said the percentage of the students who graduate will be one of the items he will study.
"One of the things we want to see is the graduation rate of students who complete the program. Are our students graduating sooner? We won't know until the end of the year," he said.
Thomas Cogswell, associate professor of history, said he thinks there are more than ample opportunities to modify and correct the existing programs.
Students who were in the mini-college praised the programs and are clamoring for it to continue.
Winston Symmes, a political science senior and former Modern Studies student, is writing a letter to Edwards and Elisabeth Zinser, chancellor for the Lexington Campus, telling them about the advantages of the mini-colleges.
"I think there is much more to the mini-colleges than just a classroom setting," Symmes said. "I plan to talk about how it's helped my leadership abilities."
Wendy Davis, an undeclared junior, thinks she learned more in Global Studies than regular classes. "All of our classes were related, which I don't think you get that in larger-section," Davis said.
Psychology sophomore Shasta Walker said the mini-colleges present a good introduction to UK.
"After two years you'll see that college is nothing to be afraid of," Walker said.
While the two mini-colleges may be on the chopping block, a new program has been initiated, cohort scheduling. Cohort scheduling places students in the same classes. The three classes are English 101, History 108 and a humanity class.
The program emulates Brigham Young University's "Common Faces," which Edwards said has been successful there.
"I think it will have an impact on retention and satisfaction of quality of learning and essentially shortening the time to get a degree," Edwards said.