"An Unfinished Conversation" is an hour-long documentary about innovations in higher education at William James College (1971-1983), a public college in west Michigan.

WJC was part of a wave of change in higher education. It's interesting to note the WJC-style innovations that still influence contemporary education or at least are still in the foreground of discussions - and which have been generally rejected (for example, CR/NC grading system; individualized study plans.

(SEE the segment "structure" for further description of WJC-style education


Early in its career, a student described it this way:

"William James College is for students who are
prepared to take responsibility for their own
education..."

The WJC story is continued on this website in the channel "The Conversation Continues"

WJC 1971-83 (500 students, 30 faculty) was one of a set of federated colleges. It taught career-related subjects from a liberal arts perspective and liberal arts subjects from a practical point of view. Pedagogy emphasized interdisciplinary teamwork on the real problems of the communities near the college. It required individualized student study plans, developed with faculty advisors. WJC offered B.S. degrees in Arts & Media, Computers & Management, Social Relations, and Urban & Environmental Studies, plus a B.S.W. in Social Work.

One reason WJC "worked" for many students and faculty is they had real ownership of college governance and of their own coursework.

Much of that participatory approach has been lost to higher education, replaced by a "managerial" style.

The U.S. Office of Education selected William James College (1971 - 1983) as a national model for its efforts to integrate liberal arts and professional education.

WJC students and faculty used the word "vocation" to mean the synthesis of liberal and professional education. The goal was to practice a king of education that would enable WJC graduates to lead personally meaningful lives of action in the world.