The philosophy of "Accent on the Individual," though named in 1964, reflects an educational philosophy that dates back to the 1930s when Ashland College President Charles Anspach developed his personalized and holistic approach to higher education.
President Charles L. Anspach served the college from 1935 to 1939 and under his administration, the Ashland Plan of Education was conceived; wherein the roots of Ashland's "Accent on the Individual" philosophy were laid.
The Ashland Plan first appeared in the 1936-37 catalog and was built upon four basic principles, which were supported with strategies that created an individualized approach to education:
Growth and Development - "We believe...that education cannot be measured in terms of time nor the accumulation of units of credit, but must be evaluated in terms of individual development and growth. We are not so interested in subjects, as such, as we are in the stimulation to growth which the studying of certain subjects brings to the individual."
Varying Rates of Growth - "Colleges must realize that individual students grow at varying rates based on unique personal differences."
Experiences and Backgrounds - "Differences among students in their ability to deal with instructional materials derive from both inherited ability and differing experiences. These differences need to be considered in planning a student's program."
Supplementary Educational Agencies - "The experiences obtained outside of the classroom are just as vital as those obtained within the classroom. Colleges have too long ignored the educational value of experiences obtained in industrial, religious, social and professional groups."
