Meredith Marks Five Years as Host of Governor's School East
By Kristi Eaves-McLennan

Four hundred of the state's brightest high school students recently moved on to the Meredith campus for a six-week stay, marking the fifth year the College has hosted North Carolina's Governor's School East (GSE).

Founded in 1963 by former Governor Terry Sanford, North Carolina's Governor's School is the oldest program of its kind in the nation. Over 26,400 students have participated in the program, including 2,000 students who have spent a collective 30 weeks studying on the Meredith campus.

Over the course of Meredith's five-year relationship with the Governor's School program, the College has become much more than a place to house GSE students.

According to two Meredith professors who have served on the Governor's School faculty, the program has offered them a unique professional development experience.

For Lisa Fredenburgh, associate professor of music, her experience as a GSE instructor has influenced her teaching style.

"Being a part of the amazing faculty [at Governor's School] has changed the way I approach my own students here at Meredith," she said.

Governor's School students have "given me a more open-minded approach to my own art form," Fredenburgh added.

Walda Powell, associate professor of chemistry and a 1974 Governor's School alumna, says that without Governor's School, she may never have become a Meredith professor.

"Governor's School is where I first decided I wanted to become a chemist," she said.

Claire McCullough, assistant vice president for graduate and professional studies, has worked to increase the collaboration and communication between the Meredith and GSE staffs. For example, McCullough, who has served as Meredith's liaison to GSE for the past two years, worked with GSE administrators to organize a luncheon introducing the Meredith community to GSE faculty and staff. Thirty Governor's School instructors will live on campus during the six-week term.

Governor's School Director James Grymes has also made it a priority to increase collaboration during his tenure as director.

"...When we moved to Meredith I quickly realized how little we were taking advantage of all this campus had to offer us. After I became director in 2003, I made establishing a better relationship with the Meredith community one of my top priorities," Grymes said. "I have been encouraged by how much progress we have made with finding new ways to collaborate."

A new piece of equipment will be installed in Meredith's Science and Mathematics building as a result of the strengthened partnership between the two institutions.

GSE science faculty member Cliff Mansfield recently convinced RJR Research to donate a $25,000 gas chromatograph, Grymes said. The instrument, which is used to separate and analyze compounds in a mixture, will be installed for use by both GSE and the College.

Rosalind Reichard, vice president for academic affairs, believes the increased collaboration between Meredith and Governor's School is a natural extension of the academic mission of both programs.

"There are a number of parallels between Meredith and Governor's School," she said. "Meredith is working toward becoming nationally known for its rigorous and transformative education, and Governor's School also prides itself on offering a transformative experience to their participants."

Members of the Meredith community are invited to attend GSE exhibits, performances and convocations that will be held on campus this summer. Upcoming speakers include North Carolina State Superintendent Mike Ward. For more information about Governor's School events, contact the GSE office, ext. 2939.

Seventh Annual Summer Symposium for Multicultural Students
By Sterling Winslow, '05

Meredith College held the seventh annual summer symposium for multicultural students on June 3-4. The purpose of the symposium, which was first held in 1998, is to help transition and bring a sense of community to incoming freshmen and new transfer students.

Charletta Sims, director of commuter life and diversity programs said, "It was a huge success," noting that 14 rising freshmen and a transfer student attended the two-day symposium. Participants listened to speakers, met faculty and staff members and got to know one another.

"Two students, Jasmine Rose and Teresa Nichols, assisted with helping make the symposium so successful," Sims said. Kim Austin, Kristin Clendinen, Teresa Hale, Marquita McCoy and Crystal Moore also served on the student panel.

Sims said those who attended the symposium enjoyed the panel because they got a chance to talk to upperclassman at Meredith and find out their recommendations for how to make a smooth transition into college. Topics that were discussed include campus life, leadership opportunities, team building activities and campus initiatives.

A rising freshman that attended the symposium commented on a survey, "I have never felt more welcomed. I got to know other students quickly. I was scared at first, but now I am totally glad that I came. I look forward to coming to Meredith."

Meredith College Receives $150,000 Grant from duPont Fund to Enhance General Education Curriculum
By Andrea Weaver

Meredith College recently received a $150,000 grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to:

• Develop more general education courses with service learning components;
• Provide training for faculty members who want to incorporate service learning in new or existing courses;
• Train more students as service learning group reflection leaders; and
• Employ a professional coordinator to manage the service learning program and serve as the college's liaison with community organizations; and develop upper-level courses for the general education curriculum.

The funding will enhance the reformed general education curriculum Meredith developed in 2002. General education courses at Meredith have always emphasized thorough knowledge in the liberal arts. The new curriculum also requires students to address timeless questions about the relationship of the individual to society, about cultural interactions, and about issues of global importance.

The curriculum supports the College's goal of preparing graduates to be active, involved citizens of the world.

"Not only do we want our graduates to be incredibly capable professionals, but we also want them to be responsible citizens," said Alyson Colwell-Waber, dean for special academic programs.

Courses with service learning components support the goal by requiring students to become involved with community organizations or issues. Students apply classroom lessons to real-world problems. As part of service learning courses, students reflect on their real-world experiences in small discussion groups led by trained student reflection leaders. In addition, students may be required to produce other forms of reflection, such as journals or oral presentations.

"Service learning combines the theoretical with the practical," Colwell-Waber said. "Meaningful, deep learning happens when students are engaged."

Jasmine Rose, a junior from Fayetteville, agreed.

"The service learning program is so fun because it connects learning and doing," she said. "It is totally opposite from the traditional model of just sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture."

Rose has served as a reflection group leader and as the assistant student coordinator for the program. During the 2004-2005 academic year, she will be the program's student coordinator, with responsibilities for training reflection leaders and serving as a liaison with faculty members. She will also assist the professional service learning program coordinator.

The reflection groups are an integral part of the service learning program's success at Meredith, according to Colwell-Waber.

"Students feel freer to talk about things if the person who is grading them is not the person leading the discussion," she said. "It seems to be, for many students, a place where they can examine issues that are complex - the solutions are not black or white. Students are confronted with the shades of gray."

The duPont Fund is a national foundation based in Jacksonville, Fla., that focuses special attention on issues facing the South. The foundation works with 325 individual institutions whose eligibility was outlined in Jessie Ball duPont's will. In 2002, the duPont Fund awarded Meredith a $150,000 grant to develop new general education courses and begin the service learning program.

Meredith College Students Complete "Go Vote" Training Session Sponsored by the Women's College Coalition and The New York Times
By Melyssa Allen

Krista Kearney, '04, Mary Hemphill, '05, and Talley Rouse, '06, represented Meredith College at "Go Vote," a one-day training session on voter education.

The seminar, held June 18 in New York City, is part of "Vote, Run, Lead," a non-partisan program of the White House Project. The Women's College Coalition and The New York Times sponsored "Go Vote."

"Being at a institute of higher learning that strives to empower women to achieve and excel in the world today, I believe that the 'Go Vote' training is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the voting process and how we, as women, can take a stance in having our voices, opinions and ideas heard," said Mary Hemphill, 2004-05 Student Government Association president.

"Go Vote" focused on giving women the tools to effectively increase their participation in the political process. The keynote speaker for "Go Vote" was Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives. Representatives from Rock the Vote, the White House Project and other female elected officials also spoke. Sessions focused on "Why Women Matter," "Voter Registration," "Canvassing and Targeting," "Get Out the Vote Strategy," "Election Day Involvement," and "Taking It Home - Action Planning."

"I was interested in 'Go Vote' training because I want to learn more about politics," said Talley Rouse. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn with so many other women about how to increase women voting as well as women in government."

Hemphill wants to share what she learns with Meredith students. "I hope that the 'Go Vote' training will provide us with the resources necessary for informing our school about the importance of voting, strategies for exciting (students) about their right to vote, and possibly, giving the students at Meredith the information they need to make educated decisions about who they vote for, why they should vote, and how their vote really does count," she said.

Krista Kearney feels that the seminar provided her with the skills needed to increase women's political participation. She will serve as editor of The Meredith Herald this fall, and hopes to use the paper as "a way to get the word out, to educate readers on the importance of voting and getting involved in politics."

"During the seminar, held at The New York Times offices, we heard speakers from various corners of the political world discuss their concerns and ideas about women and voting," Kearney said. "I met so many wonderful young women from women's colleges across the nation who are motivated, creative and ready to start a new page in women's involvement in the political world."

For more information, visit www.voterunlead.org.

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