7/28/2019 March 18 - For Learning's Sake

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7/28/2019 March 18 - For Learning's Sake

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At Grand Valley State Univer-sity and beyond, there aremany different kinds of stu-

dents with many different kinds ofrelationships with their academiccourses. While some students rue

the hour and fifteen-minute blocksof institutionalized learning, somedont mind it. And if youre likeJunior Nick Mackstood, and otherGVSU students and professors, younot only dont mind class, you likeit; In fact, Mackstood likes class

enough to do the assigned read-ings, and attend and participate inthe lecture for no academic credit.

Its called auditing classes sittingin on a lecture or course on campusbut with no formally awarded gradesor academic credits, audited classesleave no mark on your academictranscript. Some people use themto brush up on entry-level coursestheyve become unfamiliar with,and some like Mackstood audit

classes simply because they like tolearn.

We cannot speak for the majorityof GVSU, but we can speak for themajority of the Lanthorn sta; andthe average student here already

struggling to balance 15 creditsworth of in-class time and even morehours of homework and test prep,with internships, part-time jobs andsocial demands take the less ismore approach to course loads. Welove learning, but maybe not always

in the classroom.Its one of a handful of classes(Ive taken) that has meant some-thing to me, Mackstood said in astory featured in todays issue onA1. Whether it be grad school, orsomething else, its opened me up toan entire new world of academia.

Suce to say, students likeMackstood have caught on to atrend that reinvigorates the spirit ofhigher education as it was originally

intended to be not one that strivestoward a perfect G.P.A., or putshigh-earning degrees on a pedestal,but one that values knowledge forknowledges sake. One that seeks toexplode our world into one million

little pieces, and reconnect the dotsinto something that makes the worlda brighter and more dynamic placeto be.is perspective is not only com-

mendable, but also admirable. is isa perspective that students across all

majors, in all levels of their educa-tion should appreciate and seek toemulate. Not everyone has the time,nor the work ethic to take on coursework that doesnt move them towardgraduation, but our world is chang-ing, and students are going to needto arm yourself with more than justyour academic transcript to maketheir way post-graduation.

A love of learning, for learningssake would, perhaps, be a good start.

FOR LEARNINGS SAKEIn an academic climate where students pride ends over means, the practice of academic

auditing by GVSU students signals a triumphant return to the heart of higher education