Unfolding Understandings: A History of the Alverno Learning Process

The "September '69" program came about as a forum for discussion between students, faculty and administration to effect beneficial changes in the Alverno learning process. Ideas that sprang forth from these dialogues eventually became the framework for the Alverno Ability-Based Curriculum.

Student Chris Pawelski at September '69

September '69 was held from September 3-5, 1969. This letter sent to new freshmen on August 5, 1969 gives a good overview about the event and its planning.

Below is a link to a printable copy of the above letter.

Faculty received a letter, too dated August 2, 1969. Below is a link to a copy of it.

Sister Joel Read also sent a letter to the faculty prior to the event dated August 20, 1969. Here is a link to Sister Joel's letter.

Here is a schedule of events for September '69.

Below is a link to a printable copy of the schedule.

Alverno College issued a press release about September '69.

Here is a link to a printable copy of the press release.

The cover story in the Autumn 1969 issue of Alverno Today was about the September '69 program.

Here is a printable copy of that article.

A direct result of September '69 was a change in the grading policy at Alverno. Here is a link to information about the new grading policy.

After a few years, the excitement from September '69 started to wane A student, Sue Jennings, wrote an open letter to students and faculty expressing her disappointment. She asked, "where is the spirit of September '69?"

There is a useful chronology available listing events and developments at Alverno associated with September '69 and its aftermath. Here is a copy of it.