Fairfield University Partners with Bassick High School to Create a College Learning Environment Simulation

Fairfield, Conn. — Fairfield University’s Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) welcomed 80 Bassick High School students to campus starting September 4, 2015.

Throughout the academic year, Bassick High School teachers will hold their regularly scheduled Friday classes in Fairfield University classrooms.

The partnership between Fairfield’s GSEAP and Bassick High School was formed with the goal of introducing Bridgeport high school students, some of whom may not have plans to attend college, to learning in a college environment.

“We are pleased to be hosting Bassick students as a way to open our doors to local high schools and give students the opportunity to experience learning on a college campus," said Robert Hannafin, Ph.D., dean of the School. “Through this partnership we’re hoping to encourage students to rethink their plans after high school, and see higher education as a path they can pursue. And our faculty and the Bassick teachers have already found ways to collaborate, which is very exciting."

Nicole Survilla recently hosted her mathematics class in Canisius Hall and is thrilled to be on campus: "Being able to learn at Fairfield is a unique experience for my students because it allows them to see the opportunities that exist beyond Bassick High School,” she said. “It’s difficult for my students to envision a life in college. For them, higher education can seem far off or even unobtainable, but being at Fairfield and sitting in the seats of college students allows them to envision themselves attending college in the future." 

University's Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions offers a nationally accredited education with programs including Early Education, School Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy. Utilizing engaging classrooms and specialized programs, GSEAP is accommodating to schedules and a variety of field experiences.

Featured

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.