High School University Seminars

The High School University Seminars is a program offered to local school districts. Initially launched by Michael D'Innocenzo (Professor of History and the Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor), it is now administered by Donna Levinson (Assistant Dean for External Relations, School of Education, Office of Field Service) with the support of the Provost and the Dean of the School of Education and Allied Human Services. The Center for Teaching and Scholarly Excellence disseminates information about the program and helps recruit presenters.

• Faculty members propose topics for presentations in their disciplines that can expand the perspectives of high school students by illustrating aspects of scholarship and methodology -- 45 minute presentation, followed by discussion of 30-45 minutes.
• Each participating high school selects 5 presentations from the proposals offered, and chooses up to 30 students, generally juniors, to attend the seminars.
• The day after each seminar, a high school teacher meets with the students for extended discussion and follow-up.
• At the end of the series, students write brief reaction papers to any 3 of the 5 presentations, and submit them to the Hofstra presenter for comments (no grades). Generally, each faculty member receives 5-10 papers.
• A modest honorarium of $200 is offered for each presentation. Faculty choose to participate as a service to Hofstra and to its neighboring communities. In addition, initiatives of this kind enhance the reputation of the University and help attract high quality students to attend Hofstra.

Past presentations have included:

• Attitudes Toward Students with Disabilities (Vance Austin and Gloria Wilson; Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation)
• Extinction Level Events: Asteroid Impacts and Their Role in the Evolution of Life on Earth (Bret Bennington; Geology)
• Freedom and Responsibility (David Cernic; Philosophy and Religious Studies)
• Max Scheler's Theory of Love (David Cernic; Philosophy and Religious Studies)
• Changing the View of the World: Abraham Maslow and the Creation of Humanistic Psychology (Bruce Charnov; Management and General Business)
• Assimilation, Diverstiy and Confrontation: How Children's Books Changed the Way We Talk About Race and Difference (Patricia Cooper; Curriculum and Teaching)
• Reforming the U.S. Political System: An Historian?s Perspective (Michael D?Innocenzo; History)
• Safety and Civil Liberties: Confronting Terrorists and Developing a New Contract for the Planet (Michael D'Innocenzo; History)
• Power and Knowledge: Questioning Processes and Institutions That Sanction Legitimate and Illegitimate "Knowledge" (Eduardo Duarte; Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies)
• Re-thinking the Cold War (Carolyn Eisenberg; History)
• Living in a Global World: The Challenge of Diversity (Rosebud Elijah; Curriculum and Teaching)
• Imagery: If You Can See It, You Can Do It (Steven Frierman; Physical Education and Sports Sciences)
• Art: The Mirror of Civilization in Rome and Pompeii (Claire Lindgren; Fine Arts, Art History and Humanities)
• History of Space Travel and the Race to the Moon (Charles Merguerian; Geology)
• Subsurface Geology of Western Long Island as Viewed through the New York City Water Tunnel System (Charles Merguerian; Geology)
• Success in a Culturally Diverse Society (Kimberly Scott; Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies)
• Harassment in Schools (Charol Shakeshaft; Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies)
• India, Education and Gender (Sandra Stacki; Curriculum and Teaching)
• Strangers in a Stranger Land: The Evolution of the Human Mind (Bruce Torff; Curriculum and Teaching)