Classroom Without Walls inspires education without limits
For one student, the tuition-free program offered a valuable opportunity to decide if graduate school was right for him—opening doors to education and career growth.
After nearly 15 years working in social services, Juan Silva found himself asking a daunting question: What's next?
Silva built a career serving others through roles in children's services, career coaching and healthcare. As a community health worker at MetroHealth and an adjunct instructor of community health at Cuyahoga Community College, he knew he wanted to continue making an impact—but he wasn't yet sure whether graduate school was the right step.
Then an email about the Case Western Reserve University Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences' Classroom Without Walls program arrived at just the right time.
"I was at a point in my career where I was thinking, 'What's my next move?'" Silva said. "I read it over, and it sounded like something to maybe get my feet wet to decide if going back to school is what I wanted to do."
That opportunity ultimately gave him the confidence to take the next step toward earning his Master of Social Work (MSW).
Classroom Without Walls allows community professionals with bachelor's degrees and human service experience to enroll in three graduate-level courses tuition-free. Participants can earn up to nine graduate credits while experiencing the rigor, teaching style and collaborative learning environment of the Mandel School before deciding whether to pursue a graduate degree.
For Silva, the program offered exactly what he was looking for: a chance to experience graduate school before making a long-term commitment. The opportunity to learn alongside classmates from a variety of professional backgrounds and life experiences broadened his perspective while giving him an authentic preview of what graduate education at the Mandel School would be like. Collaborative discussions and real-world insights helped him see how classroom learning connected directly to practice.
"The idea really worked really well," Silva said. "We had student learners, and we had those who had worked in the field. Exploring the topics with people who have had personal experience made it even more valuable.”
After his first course, Silva didn't hesitate to maximize the opportunity. He completed the full nine credits available through Classroom Without Walls before officially enrolling in the MSW program. Looking back, Silva says those classes made the transition into graduate school much smoother because they removed much of the uncertainty surrounding what an MSW program would require.
"It gave a good understanding of the class expectations and what working toward my degree would be like," he said. "It really helped me decide that this was something I wanted to do."
Now enrolled in the Mandel School's intensive weekend MSW program, Silva balances graduate school with a full-time career, teaching responsibilities and family life. While the schedule is demanding, he says Classroom Without Walls helped him realize that pursuing an advanced degree was both achievable and worthwhile. The program has strengthened both his confidence and his professional growth, reinforcing that enrolling in the MSW program was the right decision.
For professionals considering graduate school but unsure whether they're ready to commit, Silva believes Classroom Without Walls removes much of the guesswork.
"I would definitely say, do it," he said. "There's really nothing you can lose. Take full advantage of the opportunity because you never know where it might lead."
His advice is especially relevant for working professionals who may wonder if returning to school is realistic.
"Don't talk yourself out of it," Silva said. "It's easy to say, 'I can't do it.' Just give it a try. Make that move, give it a shot, because we're not getting any younger."
Space is still available for Fall 2026 Classroom Without Walls classes. Learn more and sign up here.
