The Professor’s Road Trip – Champlain College

The College Professor has landed in what the CDC once called the Healthiest City in the U.S: Burlington, Vermont. Champlain College is nestled in the Hill Section of Burlington and offers a one-of-a-kind campus with scenic views of Lake Champlain and a neighborhood of grand homes—several of which were turned into Champlain residence halls, and themed residence options.

This private school hosts roughly 2,500 students with an average class size of about 18. Champlain has a unique structure to their education curriculum, which they call their “upside-down curriculum.” This program allows first-year students to immediately take courses in their chosen major – up to six that first year! If a student enrolls as an undeclared major, the curriculum style permits them to take courses in many different majors to try them on for size. Think how often we hear of students at the U that chose a major, but once they invested 3 years into it they realized they no longer wanted it. Wouldn’t it be great to try it on for size first before dedicating all that time and money? Not surprisingly, 90% of Champlain graduates are working within their chosen field within one year after graduation. 

It’s common to hear colleges expound on a well-rounded education. Champlain believes in educating the student in their standard academic classes, but also in life skills that will stay with them their entire lives.

Champlain’s Life Experience and Action Dimension Program, also known as LEAD is a unique life skills requirement for all students enrolled in the school. All students are required to participate in the program in addition to their standard academic classes. LEAD is organized around three themes: Community Building, Lifelong Career Management, and Financial Sophistication.

As part of the program, students participate in the “Game of Life.” This one-day event lets students get a reality check on what life is truly like once they leave the comfort and security of college. To the typical “starving student,” a standard post-collegiate salary seems like a windfall; in reality, when students are finally truly on their own, those dollars don’t stretch quite as far!  In this game, students are given a monthly budget based on the typical starting salary of their given field of study.  They experience a reduction in that salary due to taxes, insurance, repayment of student loans and then make additional financial decisions on their own.  Do they want to buy a new car or a used one? Maybe take a trip to Europe? Get their own apartment or join with a roommate? Once they’ve completed their monthly budget they get the opportunity to review it with a “credit counselor” (a fellow student schooled in budget management). Students walk away from the “Game” with a hands-on understanding of the cost of living. In this way, Champlain is taking a “Lead” role in ensuring future generations are not only book literate, they are financially savvy!

For more information about Champlain College and to obtain their application deadlines, please visit www.champlain.edu.