At Capital Community College, Some Classes Aren't in Classrooms

College classes will be in session at historic venues throughout the city in the coming months as part of Capital Community College’s Hartford Heritage Project.  The Bushnell, Old State House, and various sites that exemplify history and the arts will host place-based courses, known for taking the setting where a school is located and incorporating it into the curriculum.

Four place-based courses will be offered during the Spring 2020 semester. 

“The place-based courses offered through the Hartford Heritage Project are a singular opportunity to extend the Capital Community College classroom into the extraordinary resources of the Hartford community,” said Jeffrey F.L. Partridge, Ph.D., Director, Hartford Heritage Project and Chair, Capital Community College Humanities Department.

“Through this place-based approach, students learn concepts, theories and ideas that they would get in any college course, but they learn them in the context of the place where they live and go to school. . . . Students not only feel more engaged in learning through the place-based approach, but they also gain a sense of attachment [and] come out of these courses with the perspective of a change maker and a doer rather than one who sits on the sideline.”

The 3-credit, 16-week course offerings are not only open to current Capital students, but also to students at other colleges and universities, and members of the community. The Spring 2020 semester begins on Wednesday, January 22. Courses are:

ENG 222: American Literature II - at Capital Community College and Various Area Sites - Taught by Dr. Partridge, this course is a study of American literature from the Civil War to the present with particular emphasis on Hartford authors. Students will attend plays by American playwrights and participate in the Hartford Authors Project. (Wed. 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)

Mus 225: Arts and Entertainment Management - at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts - Taught by professionals at The Bushnell, this course provides practical and current instruction in how to successfully manage an arts and entertainment organization. (Wed. 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.)

POL 111: American Government - at The Old State House - Taught by Professor Hamish Lutris, this course is set in Connecticut’s first seat of government. Students will study the major aspects of US government, including the Constitution, Congress, the presidencies and political parties. (Tues., Thurs. 1:15 p.m.-2:36 p.m.)

THR 127:  Studies in Contemporary Theater Production – at Capital Community College and Various Area Theaters - Taught by theater educators from Hartford Stage, this course makes live theater performances in Hartford the textbook as students study contemporary theater production in a structured environment with input from production teams at various theaters. (Fri. 5:30 p.m.-8:24 p.m. in class; 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - performances)

Students report that engaging in these place-based activities as part of their coursework enhances their understanding and motivation to learn, and many of them report that this was their first opportunity to see a play or visit a museum, according to college officials. Students also report feeling more connected and passionate about Hartford than they did before coming to Capital.

In place-based education (PBE), museums, historical societies, parks, community centers, care facilities, local businesses, government agencies, and other valuable community resources become an extension of the classroom. This gives students a practical and local context for knowledge learned in their courses, and it makes the school a vital part of the life of the community.

The Hartford Heritage Project (HHP) makes Hartford's rich and diverse cultural institutions, landmarks, and neighborhoods an extension of Capital Community College’s classrooms. These fully place-based courses are unique in Connecticut to Capital Community College and Capital’s Hartford Heritage Project, which is the only such program among the twelve Connecticut community colleges.

Founded in 2010 by Capital faculty members and representatives of Hartford’s historic and cultural institutions, the Hartford Heritage Project was launched with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop and support curricula incorporating the city’s history, literature and culture.

Students looking to apply the college credit earned for these courses to a degree at another college or university can learn more at https://www.capitalcc.edu/student-services/admissions/; members of the community who are not pursing a degree can find out more at https://www.capitalcc.edu/student-services/admissions/non-degree-student-steps-for-enrolling/.

Additional information about HHP and all of its offerings can be found at https://www.capitalcc.edu/hhp/ or by contacting Dr. Partridge at jpartridge@captialcc.edu.

In the past academic year, the Hartford Heritage Project recorded 2,645 visits by members of Capital Community college to Hartford museums and theaters. This number has averaged 2,300 per year over the last four academic years and has included over 34 academic subjects in all academic divisions of the college.

Capital Community College is an urban, two-year institution enrolling more than 3,000 students in Connecticut’s capital city. The college offers 60 academic programs in accredited studies preparing students for associate degrees, certificates and transfer, while its non-credit offerings prepare students for the immediate needs of the Connecticut workforce.  It is one of New England’s most diverse campuses with a 67 percent minority enrollment and was the first college in Connecticut to be designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution.