The Georgetown Free University (GFU) was created by two juniors, Richard Rosenblatt and Reese Fullerton, in fall 19671. Inspired by similar undertakings at Stanford, Berkeley and Dartmouth, it offered around 50 tuition-free and non-credit courses taught by GU faculty or students. These classes were designed to allow students to explore a subject without pressure of exams or grades. In 1968 GFU classes were opened to Georgetown residents; previously they had been restricted to GU students.2
Philosophy behind GFU
The philosophy was laid out in the introduction to the spring 1969 Free University catalog: Over the past three semesters at Georgetown University, a new experiment in higher education has been conducted with the idea that an academic atmosphere independent of the regular curriculum would provide the student with many of the elements that make for true education. This experiment is the Free University.
Developments in the 1970s and 1980s
The Free University stopped offering classes around 1974 but was re-established in 1977 at which point it was co-sponsored by Student Government and Residence Life3. It later operated under the auspices of the Student Activities Commission but struggled in the 1980s to attract staff and financial support. Free University classes were offered for the last time in spring 19854.
- 1“More than 600 Students Register for ‘Free University Courses at GU.” Georgetown University News Service release, October 31, 1967
- 2“Free University at GU to Open Courses to Georgetown Residents.” Georgetown University News Service release, January 1, 1968
- 3Cramer, Robert. “RL, Stu. Govt. Set Up Free University.” The Hoya, September 23, 1977, p. 2. http://hdl.handle.net/10822/555014
- 4Roberts, Eileen. *”Free University Defunct Once Again.” The Hoya, November 1, 1985, p. 3. http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1063829
