Who created this mess in America? And who will have to clean it up?

Readings and On-Line Discussion with
Economics Professor Walt Hecox '64 and Current Students

A 1997/98 Not-For-Credit Course, using the World Wide Web and E-Mail, for Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Colorado College. This Course Can Be Taken During the 1997/98 Academic Year

Course Description:

     Thomas Jefferson advised long ago: "We should consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts and morally bound to pay for them ourselves." This course explores the social, political and economic dimensions of the federal government budget vs. national debt debate from the perspective of how retirees, baby boomers and generation X (ages 16-36) view the problem and its possible solutions. Inter-generational issues of fairness, compassion and discipline permeate the debate in the US and other industrial countries about government expenditures continually outpacing revenues and the resulting national debt as a burden on future generations. Today's youth is troubled over their future and that of America. (See attached article by Professor Hecox on their opinions.) The expectations people of various ages have about the nature of their economy and society and what governments will do for them vs. what they must do for themselves fuels a lively and sometimes bitter debate among generations. In this course faculty, alumni, parents and students will engage in informed discussions of these issues. Class size is limited to 25 participants in the Fall Semester and 25 in the Spring Semester.

Structure:

     Ten individual self-paced modules to be completed over a 15 week period, dealing with dimensions of Generation X and the social, political, and economic environment within which young people grow to maturity.

     Each Module consists of:

• Readings (2 paperback books provided + On-Line Readings accessible via the Web)
• Personal entries in an Electronic Journal + dialog with Professor Hecox and students
• Discussion via E-Mail to share ideas, perspectives, questions
• Approximately 4-5 hours required to complete each Module (including readings and E-Mail correspondence)
• Participants will also be asked to critique this Virtual Course as a learning experience so the medium can be improved

     An example of a Web Syllabus for this course, as taught to students on the CC campus, can be found at the following URL on the World Wide Web:

http://www.coloradocollege.edu/Dept/EC/Courses/EC210Hecox/

Staff

     The Colorado College staff include Economics Professor of 27 years Walt Hecox '64, a man on the cusp between the silent generation and the baby boomers and father of two Generation X children, and selected current students, all members of Gen X, who have taken this course on campus and/or have the background and interest to participate along side alumni, parents and friends in exploring inter-generational issues.

Requirements to Participate:

• You must be affiliated with Colorado College as an alumnus/alumna, parent or friend
• Access to the World Wide Web at your home or office and familiarity with navigating the Web and use of E-Mail
• A Course Fee of $150 to defray expenses of texts, costs of developing and operating the course, and student participation as personal correspondents.
• Willingness to complete the ten modules during a 15 week period.

Purpose:

     Colorado College encourages liberal learning on a life-long basis. The advent of electronic media makes it possible for alumni, parents and friends to share in the learning process occurring on campus. This is especially pertinent for the topic of this course about inter-generational issues of entitlements and opportunities for young and old alike to share in the American Dream.

A sample module is available for those interested in examing a typical "day" in this class.

To Enroll:

     To register, please mail your e-mail address and a check ($150 per person), made payable to Colorado College, to Tutt Alumni House, Colorado College, 14 East Cache La Poudre, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Course materials will be mailed upon receipt of registration.

If you have already enrolled, proceed to the the registered user pages.