December 7, 2009
In the style of the purported original Shackleton version*, possibly apocryphal:
FACULTY WANTED: FOR CHALLENGING EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, NO SALARY, LONG PERIODS OF AMBIGUITY, CONSTANT DIFFICULTY, SANE RETURN DOUBTFUL, SATISFACTION AND KINSHIP IN CASE OF SUCCESS. RICHARD LISTON, PH.D.
The Sphere College Project is creating a new institution of higher learning. We are in a very exciting time—our earliest stages of development. As of December, 2009 we have around 20 students and one faculty member in Phoenixville, PA, 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. We are creating a financially accessible college for adults 21 and older who would benefit from an innovative, individualized curriculum. Our mission, written by current students and faculty who participate in the College’s Steering Committee, is this: “Sphere College provides an environment for each student to discover and pursue their passion and vocation for enrichment of the human experience”. We accomplish this through a three phase program described on the Project’s website, http://spherecollege.org.
The Sphere College Project is looking for highly motivated original thinkers to join this effort. Phoenixville unites the amenties of a small town with access to the advantages of a major city. Ideally, a member of the project would be highly accomplished in multiple areas bridging the arts, sciences and humanities, and have an interest in studies in all three. Since we are creating a new college we are still seeking funding, so anyone who joins The Sphere College Project at this time does so on strictly a volunteer basis. It will be necessary for all faculty members to contribute their time and expertise towards building the infrastructure of the College. The Steering Committee of the Project, made up of students and faculty, agreed that all faculty and staff working for the college must participate in Phase I of the program, “Self and Other”. Faculty positions are currently non-tenured. Students and faculty will decide together whether the College will offer tenure in the future. Success in the participation of forming Sphere College will bring considerable opportunity for recognition in the field, and for advancement as the College expands.
To apply for a (currently unpaid) position with The Sphere College Project, send an email to hiring@spherecollege.org. This email must consist of no more than 750 words and must clearly demonstrate:
• that you are accomplished in more than one area of knowledge;
• that you will be able to support yourself for quite some time as the College becomes established;
• that you will be successful as a mentor of adults in a non-traditional, highly challenging environment.
Please send an application only if ALL of the above apply.
Since The Sphere College Project is in the process of growth, we do not have the capacity to respond to applications other than those from individuals who appear to be an excellent match for the Project.
* “MEN WANTED: FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS. SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON”
December 12, 2009 at 5:05 am
In response to some questions I’ve received…
Ideally, I’m looking for intelligently creative individuals who can grasp the vision of this college, realize that it is important for students to participate in the formation of the college and can contribute energies to the effort. It will be useful for an individual joining us at this point to be able to move comfortably among many parts of society. The most important quality is that the individual be a lifelong learner who is curious about many different bodies of knowledge.
I am a musician and computer scientist, so complementary areas of knowledge would be helpful, particularly business skills, politics, history, literature—humanities in general—and other arts.
Richard
May 24, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Hi Richard – I am SO GLAD to have become aware of your initiative with this college! Your mission dovetails quite well with what I’ve been speculating on for the last 2 years. I just completed my degree at Penn, going full time for the last 2 years for the first time in my life. I selected the new interdisciplinary major; Philosophy, Political Science and Economics, although I selected widely from the department offerings. I have so many ideas/plans/hopes and they center in the arena of education.In my mind, this is where social change for a more positively prosocial society begins. I’ve paid particular attention to the areas of conflict resolution, social interaction, evolution of cooperation, positive psychology. I’m an optimist, knowledge seeker and sharer, integrator and problem solver.
Instead of putting my efforts into solo work I know I can maximize my efforts by joining with other like-minded people – I knew I just had to find them. Is there an easy way to meet and be able to talk with you in person about how we could colloborate? I’m close to P-ville, in Paoli. My email address is junister@gmail.com.
Anita Juni
March 27, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Hi Richard,
I believe we met briefly around the biodiesel vehicle at Saturday’s skillshare. I’ve noted your flyer and now a bit of your website, and am interested in learning more. Perhaps attending one of the classes?
As to the three areas of concern mentioned above, I offer my website as delineation. Please note that I am only satisfied with the first several pages of the site at the moment. Most of the other current entries require my reorganization, introductions and segues, but I’ve recently managed to re-interest my website builder in the project and updating should begin soon with (momentary) final version within 2 months. A resume and CV can be found at “History of OARS” on the website.
I self-financed the sale of my central WV hillside farm and so have a quite modest income every month — it suffices. The buyers have been timely in payments for two years and there are 13 to go.
As to whether I can be “successful as a mentor of adults in a non-traditional, highly challenging environment,” I’d have to say that the apparent, current answer is NO. Afterall, I’ve been almost entirely involved with “non-traditional, highly challenging environments” and have been long unable to follow-up on the two WV systems. Perhaps when OARS’ website is “done.”
I suspect that involvement with Sphere would be a most worthwhile experience and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Bob Hamburg
Omega-Alpha Recycling Systems
Symbiotically Integrated Anaerobic Digestion
Biological Repair NOT a technological fix
When you’re up the creek, you need some OARS!
As to my success as a mentor,