DePaul University School for New Learning records

The School for New Learning (SNL) was founded by Dr. Howard Sulkin, Dean, with the assistance of Marilyn Stocker, Associate Dean, and Ann Kurland, secretary. Sulkin, Stocker, and Kurland began planning SNL in 1972 with grant money from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The team conducted research, identifying the needs, learning styles, developmental stages, and personal goals of the nontraditional student. The nontraditional student was defined as an adult of at least 24 years of age who wished to further his or her education, either with the intention of pursuing a degree or simply to gain new knowledge. They identified five primary domains of knowledge that would form the core of the SNL curriculum: Vocational/Career, Communication/Interpersonal, the Community of Man, Quality of Life, and Lifelong Learning. Students who graduated from SNL with a bachelor's degree were expected to demonstrate their competence in each of these five areas.

In 1981, David Justice became Dean of the School for New Learning following Howard Sulkin's retirement. In 1984, SNL received a three year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to design a graduate program, and in 1985 graduate students were admitted to the school. Other SNL Deans have included Susanne Dumbelton (1995-2007) and her successor, Marisa Alicea.