Student interest supports new house courses


Missie Mills

Assistant Editor


Based on the number of students signing up for the House Course program in the fall, many of the student course instructors are pleased with the enrollment figures for their classes.


Course instructor Abby Conley said "I was really surprised that there was this much student interest" in the house course.


According to Conley, several professors have been discussing "a lot of student interest" in the house course offerings.


Conley said that students have also asked her about American Jesus, the course she is teaching.


"People have been coming to talk to me about (the course), saying 'we'd like to take your course,'" Conley said.


Instructor Aaron Gilley has been experiencing the same reactions.


"I've received a lot of feedback on my course," said Gilley, who will teaching Christ in Relationships. "Surprisingly, many people told me straight out they were going to take the course without even asking for any more specific details."


Registrar Sue Skidmore said that with seven students enrolled, Christ in Relationships has the highest enrollment of any of the six house courses.


Gilley credits this high number to the course's practicality.


"I think that people are taking my course as opposed to others because it's very practical," Gilley said, "It's a topic that anyone could find interest in because it applies to everyone."


Junior Karen Alexander is taking Christ in Relationships, and said she thinks the house courses are a good idea.


"It's going to be interesting to get the classes out of the classrooms and into an informal setting," Alexander said.


Alexander believes the courses will "change the dynamics of the class and allow for more discussions." She said she is in support of the pass/fail grading system.


"Pass/fail will allow you to continue to like the course without struggling to make the A," she said.
Junior Clair Miller is enrolled in Body Image & the Media, and is excited by the novelty of the course. "I'm taking it because it's something that I'm interested in, and I've never seen anything like it offered at Milligan."


“I am excited that I get to take a class taught by another student," said Miller, "I think that it's important for students to share their expertise with others."


According to Gilley, teaching a house course will provide real life experience.


"I hope to teach at the college level one day, and I think that this will give me a small yet helpful understanding about what being a 'professor' holds," Gilley said. "I'm very excited about this opportunity."