UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 30, Page 1
May 5, 1994
Francis Alison's academy  lives on in new program

     In the fall of 1743, Francis Alison, a highly respected scholar of the
day, founded New London Academy, regarded as the forerunner of the
University of Delaware. In the first term, he taught about a dozen boys in
Latin, Greek and Hebrew, as well as practically all branches then known of
the arts and sciences. These and later students went on to become
governors, congressmen, signers of the Declaration of Independence and of
the Constitution, doctors, merchants and scholars of reputation.
     Last fall, 17 freshmen carried on that tradition when they entered the
University as the first group of Alison Scholars. Through the application
process for the Honors Program and scholarships, several students were
identified who, like Alison and his students, showed strong interests and
abilities in the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a way to attract
them to the University and show its commitment to academic excellence, they
were invited to participate in the Alison Scholars Program.
     Alison Scholars benefit from the program in several ways. Coursework
and extracurricular activities are designed specifically to help them hone
their skills in reasoning, analysis, speaking and debating. In addition,
the program increases their awareness of current issues in literature, the
arts, science, politics and international affairs. The students also
receive early exposure to opportunities that will enrich their education,
such as undergraduate research, study abroad, community service and
internships, as well as early counseling about preparation for graduate or
professional school.
     The students also are allowed greater freedom and flexibility in
fulfilling their general education requirements and designing their own
curricula. To design a more intellectual and challenging course of study,
they receive academic advisement from faculty advisers in their respective
majors, as well as from the program adviser Robert F. Brown, director of
the University Honors Program and professor of philosophy.
     Last semester, Brown taught the Alison Scholars Forum, a one-credit
course that met one evening each week and satisfied the requirement for a
freshman Honors Forum. This course was offered only to Alisons as a way to
help them get to know each other and develop a sense of identity. As a
group they attended a concert, a musical and several plays, interacted with
guest speakers, discussed and debated different topics, met with upperclass
students to learn about the opportunities available to them at Delaware and
had social gatherings. This semester, they are involved in similar
activities but not in a structured course format.
     The freshmen who accepted this special status had to write a letter
explaining how they hoped to benefit from the opportunity. They entered the
College of Arts and Science with a variety of majors in the liberal arts,
social sciences and sciences, along with some undeclared. But, they all had
high ability in the humanities and social sciences and broad intellectual
and cultural interests.
     Freshman Erin Dorsch, who is undeclared, said the program has shown
her many of the opportunities the University has to offer and how to take
advantage of them. She said the course was good because she "met new people
and made new friends. Everyone has a different way of looking at things,
which makes discussion interesting."
     The scholars are so enthusiastic about the program that they met in
February to critique their experience and offer suggestions for the new
group of Alisons that will enter the University next fall.
     They say they look forward to being friends and mentors to the new
group members. In addition, they have been planning a special three-credit
course of their own, to be offered on an optional basis to themselves next
semester, as second-year Alison Scholars.
     Amy Schiess, a freshman in international relations, said they are
developing a philosophy course. "We decided to read about Plato and other
people who some of us wouldn't normally read. Some of the people in the
group are science majors and probably wouldn't take a philosophy course,"
Schiess explained. She said she looks forward to the class because of the
group's diversity of ideas.
     Because the program is so new, Brown said it is difficult to tell the
students what will happen in coming years. The details are being created as
they go. Brown pointed out that, eventually, there will be Alisons in all
four class years at the University. Scholars from different classes will be
able to interact with each other, and the group will be large enough to
sustain a variety of special Alison courses and enrichment opportunities
every year.
     Brown said the program has two purposes: to attract promising,
high-ability students in the humanities and social sciences and to prepare
students for graduate scholarships, awards and other recognition.
     By making the students aware of their resources and challenging their
personal development, he said, the University hopes to help them become
more articulate speakers, better readers and writers and more analytical
thinkers. The goal is to groom future Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Mellon and
Fulbright scholars.
     Brown said the program has turned out as he had hoped. "Nearly all 17
have thrown themselves into it whole-heartedly," Brown said. "They feel it
has added an important aspect to their experience."
                                                  -Gina Poltrok