LEXINGTON, Ky. — Transylvania University transformed local government chambers, historic sites and regional attractions into dynamic classrooms this past May, giving students direct access to professionals and real-world applications in fields such as accounting, history and sports management.

Under Transylvania's "4-4-1" academic calendar system, students concentrate on a single course during the four-week May term, offering an opportunity to dive deeply into experiential learning beyond traditional classroom walls.

In Professor Melissa Mattox's Governmental Accounting course, students visited the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Council Chamber to meet officials who explained how the budget is shaped by the input of area residents — and how it evolves as needs change throughout the year. Commissioner of Finance Erin Hensley emphasized to the class that strong communication and teaching skills are as vital as accounting expertise, since the field touches every role in an organization.

At a cemetery founded in 1869, board members Yvonne Giles and Mark Coyne taught students proper gravestone cleaning techniques for a new women's history tour, which students then applied themselves. Deputy County Clerk Shea Brown guided students through historical records at the clerk's office, from archival documents related to slavery to marriage certificates to records of land purchases for Transylvania's founding.

According to the source material, "these visits demonstrated to students how history is alive, how they can be involved in history in the community and what career paths exist in the field of public history." Caroline Host, a Transylvania senior, said the community-based approach made The Bluegrass Past her favorite May term class.

Transylvania University, located in downtown Lexington, serves approximately 1,007 students and offers more than 45 majors and minors. Every Transy student is guaranteed the opportunity to complete a high-impact learning experience through internships, study abroad or alumni mentoring, with 95 percent of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.