Chiron Studies celebrates record year

Portland State’s Chiron Studies program—where students propose, plan and teach their own classes—has experienced unprecedented growth this year, enrolling more students than any other time in the program’s history.

Over 100 students are currently enrolled in Chiron Studies courses and the program has expanded from offering just one class during fall term to six classes this spring term.

According to Chiron Studies Coordinator Rozzell Medina, the program emerged in the late 1960s as part of an international movement to empower students to have a say in shaping their education. Chiron Studies allows PSU students the ability to influence their own curriculum by formulating classes that follow their specific interests.

Both undergraduate and graduate students can propose courses, but the student must be able to demonstrate the educational merit of the proposed class’ subject matter, as well as their own vast understanding and research of the course theme.

Carmen Papalia, who teaches a Chiron Studies course, believes that the program makes for diversity in approaches to learning.

“[Chiron Studies] is kind of like a dream world where you get to design a class that’s aligned with your interests,” he said.

Papalia’s course, “Writing Through the Body,” which will be re-offered in fall 2012, gives students the opportunity to productively address their bodies, and use the body as a tool and catalyst for writing.

Medina said that because the students are also the instructors in Chiron Studies, the typical classroom hierarchy is disassembled, fostering a different kind of learning environment.

“It’s interesting to be part of a class where there’s a decentralized power structure,” Medina said. “The idea of peer-learning is really interesting.”

Christopher Mendt, a PSU student who has taken two Chiron courses, said about the distinct classroom atmosphere of Chiron Studies, “There is a level of empowerment from the student side, yet a firm high standard in quality of education which thus far, I rank on par with any non-Chiron class I’ve taken.”

Mendt believes that Chiron Studies is an important educational option because it allows PSU students to actively affect their academic experience.

“Students are paying a premium price tag for higher education, and should have some influence on the product they are paying for, just as conscious consumers of other products do,” he said.

While other universities have similar types of programs, Medina said that as far as he knows, PSU’s Chiron Studies is the only program that pays its student teachers.

According to Medina, PSU’s Chiron Studies program is also unique from others around the country in that the courses are approved by a committee, whose members are comprised of not only Portland community members and PSU faculty, but a resounding student majority.

Harrell Fletcher, assistant professor of art and a Chiron Studies committee member, supports Chiron Studies because he believes that breaking down hierarchies, providing employment for students and allowing for greater diversity within the university curriculum are the program’s greatest achievements.

 “The process of teaching a subject forces you to understand and know it in a new way,” Fletcher said. “I think that learning to teach makes you a better student—more empathetic and engaged.”

Fletcher attributes most of Chiron’s recent success to the work of Medina, the program’s coordinator.

“Rozzell has dusted off a sleepy program and made it incredibly vibrant and exciting. I’m very pleased that as a [graduate] student Rozzell will be sticking around to lead Chiron into the future,” he said.

Medina hopes to continue this trend of growth, possibly adding even more classes to the Chiron Studies program. Medina also wants to build a coalition of similar programs around the country in order to develop a culture where the Chiron method of learning is not seen as out of the norm.

Chiron Studies plans to offer six classes next fall. Slated courses include topics such as role-playing games, 21st century enlightenment, writing through the body and food affairs.

For more information about Chiron Studies and about teaching a course, visit www.pdx.edu/chiron. ?