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Kudos to Catholic U.
Provost James Brennan of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. has unveiled a plan for a first-year curriculum geared toward boosting retention rates and building a common intellectual foundation for its students, according to a report from Inside Higher Ed. At its December meeting, CUA's Board of Trustees approved the First-Year Experience program, which will put freshman students into small living-learning groups centered on a common university-wide humanities core.
These core classes, which will be voluntary next academic year but will become mandatory for all freshmen the following year, have as their backbone the great works of Western civilization--including such enduring authors as Homer, Augustine, and Dante. This common core course, along with its accompanying mentorship and advising program, is designed to foster connections among the students, and between students and faculty. It is a superb proposal, and the Board should be commended for supporting Provost Brennan in this effort. For all trustees looking to improve retention through the strengthening of teaching and learning, CUA provides a promising model.
Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on February 23, 2009 at February 23, 2009 02:06 PM
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