Chiron Studies has faced financial and structural challenges since it began 41 years ago, but the program is thriving in its unconventional mission of allowing students to teach their peers.
Students teaching students well
Chiron Studies has faced financial and structural challenges since it began 41 years ago, but the program is thriving in its unconventional mission of allowing students to teach their peers.
“Chiron Studies is in a make or break position,” said Eddie Hallman, program director and student government administrative director.
The program began in 1968 to help qualified students and others in the Portland State community establish courses and pursue academic interests not provided for in the existing curriculum, according to its Web site.
In 2005, the program fell apart.
Originally, Chiron Studies was funded through student fees and was constructed as a student group. However, when Chiron Studies was revived in 2008, it abandoned its student-group formation for an independent organizational structure under the supervision of the Office of Academic Affairs, according to its Web site.
The program’s classes did not receive course reference numbers for winter term classes until week 10 of fall term, just before finals. But student instructor stipends are on the rise and classes had only a few slots left open by the first week of winter term, said Hallman, who is serving a one-year term as director and will soon be taking applications for next year’s director.
According to Hallman, the program used to receive as much as $40,000 per year from the Student Fee Committee but now receives only $12,000 per year via the Office of Academic Affairs.
Before he served as director and before the funding source changed, student instructors were paid $2,100 per term, Hallman said.
When he took over, student instructors were paid $700 per term, which Hallman helped raise to $1,000 per term for current student instructors. He is now working to recruit instructors to create sustainability classes as part of a grant from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation for a maximum of $10,000, Hallman said.
Hallman expects the program to perform better than ever because the funding is coming from the Office of Academic Affairs, which reevaluates the program every term, Hallman said.
Taiwanese began as a Chiron Studies class and is now on the regular course list under the foreign language department, Hallman said.
“It’s all about sharing knowledge and knowledge is valid regardless of age or grade level,” Hallman said.
Currently available Chiron Studies courses:
Alternative Energy Design Workshop (CRN 46337)
Zachary Springer, instructor
Harrell Fletcher, advisor
Tools for Academic Development and Success (CRN 46339)
Teresa Shank, instructor
Dr. Christine M. Cress, advisor (in her absence—Dr. Janine Allen)
To teach a Chiron Studies course, submit an informal course abstract to [email protected]
Tentative deadline for spring term is Jan. 25, 2010.
