What is FractalU?
FractalU is an improvised college in New York City. We offer in-person classes at low cost, to anyone in the city. We're a community of people who want to learn, conduct research, and do great work together. You can join as an instructor, a student, or both.
Anyone can apply to teach. Anyone in NYC can apply to take a class. No credentials, no grades, no gatekeeping. Classes meet weekly from living rooms, community spaces, and dedicated third spaces across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
We've run over 100 classes to more than 1,000 students since Fall 2023. The catalog spans STEM, computer science, AI, mind-body practices, arts, civics, close readings of great books, and experimental formats. No theme, no required canon for students. The range reflects the pluralism of the people who show up.
The etiquette
- Take yourself and others seriously.
- Be concrete; no bullshitting.
- Collaborate joyfully and publicly.
The canon
FractalU has a shared intellectual foundation — six essays on what it means to do significant work, find knowledge frontiers, and learn in community. It was introduced by Andrew Rose to design the school's intellectual environment, the way the Federalist Papers established principles for the Constitution.
The six pieces are by Adam Mastroianni, Slime Mold Time Mold, Samo Burja, Richard Hamming, Paul Graham, and Alan Kay. Together they point toward an environment where people read hundreds of books a year, take dozens of classes, pursue their curiosities, and do science.
Links
- FractalU Substack — announcements, class spotlights, and dispatches from the community
- Fractal NYC — the broader Fractal ecosystem: housing, campus, and programs
- FractalU on fractalnyc.com
- fractalu@fractalnyc.com — questions, teaching inquiries, anything