New college will write first draft of its history next week

By John Collins, jcollins@lowellsun.com
Updated: 08/21/2010 06:35:42 AM EDT

SALEM, N.H. -- A college that focuses exclusively on history and legal studies will make history of its own when it begins its first classes on Monday.

Created by the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover. Mass., and based in an office building at 1 Stiles Road, The American College of History and Legal Studies is being touted by its founders as "a revolutionary development in higher education."

"ACHLS is unlike any other college in the country in that it's a senior college offering only the junior and senior years of undergraduate education, and is the only one which will grant bachelor's degrees exclusively in history and legal studies," said spokeswoman Lynne Snierson.

Also, the college will provide a pathway into the Massachusetts School of Law to allow qualified students an opportunity to earn their law degree in six years instead of the traditional seven years, Snierson said.

ACHLS's annual tuition is $10,000, and half-tuition scholarships of $5,000 available to qualified applicants, Snierson added.

The dean and founding professor of the new college is Michael Chesson, a leading scholar in the field of American history and a U.S. Navy veteran. Former New Hampshire state Rep. Maureen Mooney of Merrimack is the associate dean and chief operating officer. Ruth-Ellen Post, who practices law in Salem and resides in Windham, and Boston College Professor Andrea Defusco-Sullivan of Methuen have joined the adjunct faculty as writing professors.

"The history college is a new concept in higher education, and this is a great adventure," said Chesson, who taught at UMass Boston and chaired the department of history. "I am very hopeful and optimistic that it will take off and fly. It has taken years of planning and development to get to this stage, and I'm excited to be a part of it."

The college's announced method of teaching will not be by lecture. Instead, professors will use a combination of the Harkness Method of discussion employed by Phillips Exeter Academy and the Socratic Method used by the Massachusetts School of Law.

Beginning Aug. 23, the college will hold classes three nights per week at its Salem campus, a schedule designed to allow students to work while finishing their bachelor's degrees.

The college's geographic location, a short distance from Exit 2 off I-93, was carefully chosen, according to Mooney.

"The site is very accessible to I-93 and it is conducive to an ideal learning environment, with a fully equipped library," Mooney said.

To schedule a visit, request a catalog, or find out more information, visit achls.org, e-mail info@achls.org, or call 603-204-3918.