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Phil 281: The Evolution of Institutional Values: Lake Forest College, 1857-2007
The course is a collaborative research project, designed to describe, interpret, and assess the changes concerning its vision and mission that Lake Forest College has undergone since its inception. Students will examine a number of dimensions, from Lake Forest College records to accounts of the broader social environment, from examining official documents to interviewing members of the College community, from piecing together what happened at the College to searching for the causes and implications of events. The goal will be to develop a report and web materials that capture some of the values debates and transitions that mark the College’s first 150 years.
Participation is by invitation only. Interested students should contact Lou Lombardi, x5187 or 847-735-5187. Students are expected to devote 5 hours per week to the project. Much work will be done individually or in small groups, and students will be expected to schedule and budget their time effectively. The group will meet regularly, to share information and insights.
General Areas to Explore
The project will begin with four broad areas for research. For each area, there are two aspects to consider: (1) what happened at Lake Forest College and (2) what was happening in the larger community. Our ultimate goal will be to unite these elements.
Likely Types of Research and Presentations of Results
Each participant will bring unique experiences, skills, and insights to the project, and we will seek to utilize each student’s particular talents
Expected Research Sources
Traditional journals and books
Archive materials
Web sources
Government documents
Interviews
Pictures, video, and audio sources
Expected Modes of Presentation
Written materials, both detailing the story of our values evolution and interpreting and assessing it
Oral presentations and panels highlighting specific aspects of the evolution
Web pages, combining written materials as well as pictures, audio, and video sources