<p>Here’s an article on Pres. Frank Adelyotte and impact on Swarthmore.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/bulletin/mar03/aydelotte.html[/url]”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/bulletin/mar03/aydelotte.html</a></p>
<p>They key point, I think, is that Adelyotte’s Honors Program, now in place for 80+ years, has shaped the entire approach to teaching at Swarthmore. The whole notion of an “active” education (as opposed to passively listening to a lecture) is totally ingrained in the college culture.</p>
<p>In many departments, there really is no difference between the honors program and “in-course” except for the outside examiners and the number of thesis-style senior papers. In the few large departments (poli sci, econ, bio), there is probably more of a difference and there is the perception that honors students in these departments get “most-favored nation” status. However, in most departments, the vast majority of upper-level courses are seminars, regardless.</p>
<p>From an historical perspective, Adelyotte’s notions were pretty radical. Remember, this was in the 1920s when the concepts of teaching were still in the “ruler on knuckles if you don’t memorize these facts” stage.</p>