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

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.

Digital Edition