No, I'm not talking about N.C. State or UNC-CH. I'm talking about The Raleigh Neighborhood College, a program offered by the city of Raleigh in partnership with Wake County.

They don't have a football team that you can cheer on to victory, and there are no fraternities or sororities to pledge. But what you learn may serve you just as well as what you learned in college.

The 13-week session, from Sept. 15 to Dec. 5, gives participants a chance to learn more about city services and county services -- which agency does what, which agency to call, etc. The course includes a tour of city neighborhoods and visits to boards and commissions.

Classes meet Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

The fall session is "pretty much full," said Hardy Watkins, director of community services for the city. (Only 25 students are accepted per session). But I decided to highlight this course anyway for a few reasons: A lucky few might get in; Those who don't can get on the waiting list for the spring session; and I find the course, which is a few years old, intriguing.

This is one of those uncommon cases in which the government does something for an intangible purpose -- for the edification of the citizenry.

City officials get criticized quickly enough when they mess up -- they deserve a pat on the back for doing something right.

I asked Watkins: Why does the city do it?

"There are a couple of reasons," he said. "One, if you enable citizens to understand the functions of government, the truth of the matter is that it will enhance the delivery of services ... It will save time and save resources.

"Second, it lets citizens know that government isn't this big, bad bureaucracy ... We're not hiding anything or doing anything secretly."

If I went, I think I'd major in "informed citizenry" and minor in "cynicism reduction."

For more information, call 831-6097 or visit the city's Web site: www.raleighnc.gov.