New Activities Courses Aim to Tap Creativity, Versatility
Bilkent has introduced two new courses this semester, Collegiate Activities I and II (GE250 and 251). GE250 and 251 require students to become involved with student-led activities on campus. Although GE250 and 251 are not academic courses in the strictest sense, it is well established that involvement in student activities not only contributes to learning by giving students the opportunity to try out the skills they have learned in academic courses. Also, employers like to see involvement in student programs on a CV because such participation encourages student leadership, problem solving, and time management.
GE250 and 251 have already been pre-loaded into all sophomore-year schedules. Together they make up a year-long program that encourages a diverse set of activities and endeavors outside one's coursework. Students should check their emails for technical aspects of the courses. In addition, you are welcome to contact ge250@bilkent.edu.tr for your inquiries. Information can also be found at a website that is being developed: http://bilkent.edu.tr/ge250. If you are an eligible student who wants to enroll in particular activities, login SRS (http://stars.bilkent.edu.tr/srs) and select "GE 250" under the "Services" menu item.
The Bilkent University Senate decided to pre-load these required courses into each student's course schedule because the aim of the University is much broader than merely training students for a profession or acquisition of knowledge in an area of specialization. Bilkent strives to provide opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives. Particularly, Bilkent aims to develop individuals who take initiative, who show responsibility with respect to the wider community and the world, who contribute to innovation and improvement in the society at large, who maintain and practice respect for differences, and who are interested in intellectual and artistic/creative life of humanity.
Currently, Bilkent students themselves are actively designing and shaping GE250 and 251 in collaboration with the university administration. Along with the cooperation of and constructive feedback from the larger student body, the institution aims to build a program that will enrich the lives of Bilkent students.
Associate Provost Prof. Güliz Ger, who administers the new program, issued a spirited challenge to Bilkent 2nd year students: "Let's go, students of four-year schools in their third semester; let's go out and explore domains of life that we do not necessarily encounter in our daily lives."