Many apply to teach Ex College classes

In addition to the regular University classes, students will have the opportunity to choose from an additional 23 classes sponsored by the Ex College next semester. The teachers of these classes were narrowed down from a pool of over 110 applicants who wanted to teach a course in the Ex College.

This surplus of applicants is nothing new, Director of the Ex College Robyn Gittleman said. She said that in her 25 years working at the Ex College, there have always been large numbers of applicants, although the exact number varies from year to year.

Gittleman said that both the quality of students and the opportunity to teach a class draw many prospective professors to Tufts year after year. "One of the reasons that people want to teach here is that they would be teaching Tufts students," Gittleman said. "Also, it is a unique opportunity that enables them to teach a course that they feel passionate about and are an expert in."

Another reason the Ex College receives so many applicants is because they have efficient advertising, Associate Director Howard Woolf said. "We have, over the years, created a pretty effective direct mailing list," he said. The Ex College sends mail to graduate programs, social, historical and cultural organizations, government offices, media outlets, and businesses.

The economy also contributes to the amount of people interested in teaching at the Ex College, both Gittleman and Woolf said. "When the economy isn't so good, we get more people applying," Woolf said, "which is somewhat ironic because we don't pay a whole heck of a lot."

The majority of Ex College teachers are not doing it for the money, according Woolf. Rather, they are professionals who are fervent about designing their own course and informing others on a topic they love, or are involved in academia and are not given the freedom that the Ex College offers in course topics at their places of work.

An example of this, Gittleman said, was the story of a professor at Northeastern University who wanted to teach a class on assimilation but was not able to do so at his own university. After seeking out the Ex College, he was able to teach a class in which each student represented a country and interacted with one another accordingly.

The process of choosing course offerings for the Ex College takes about six weeks in total. After submitting an application, most prospective professors interview with a sub-committee consisting of one faculty member and two students from the Ex College board.

The Ex College board consists of five faculty members, five students, and the four administrators of the Ex College.

Finding someone with both student and faculty perspectives is necessary for knowledgeable, communicative, and interesting professors, Gittleman said.

After the interview process, a report on each applicant is sent to a faculty member in the department that most closely pertains to the subject matter of the class being discussed, so that a professor familiar with the material can give his or her input.

The last step of the process is a large board meeting in which there is a vote to determine the final course line-up, which, for spring semester, will be decided by the end of reading period.

Administrative Coordinator Cindy Stewart said that on average, 1500 students sign up for Ex College classes each semester, and that by graduation, 70 percent of students have taken at least one course at the Ex College.

"The coolest thing about working at the Ex College has been talking to people at other institutions and describing what exactly the Ex College is," Stewart said. "It is such a unique program and people are always so amazed by it."

Registration for Spring 2003 Ex College courses will take place after winter break and for the first time students will be able sign up for the classes online.