HONOR 2700 - Honors Cornerstone I

Honors students in the Honors Living and Learning Experience will exclusively be members of Cornerstone, a one-hour, first-year student seminar. This graded seminar gives students the chance to meet in a small group setting with a faculty mentor and other honors students living on their dorm floor for a weekly 80 minute time period. Designed to both build community and provide students with academic advising and reflection, this course encourages students to reflect on both their academic and personal goals, providing them with tools to make difficult choices they might confront both in and outside the classroom. In addition, Cornerstone introduces students to the history of higher education the United States, the core issues in public education today, and the ways education can become a public good. Cornerstone also examines such concepts and tools as how to do a critical reading of a text, how to build a sound argument or to engage in the civil exchange of ideas, and ways to develop a sense of personal responsibility and connection to the community. Ultimately, Cornerstone extends the learning experience beyond the classroom and into the residence hall environment. Students will periodically do short readings relevant to seminar topics and will be expected to engage in discussions, collaborations, and community building activities.