Anniversary of the First-Year Program | College of the Holy Cross
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10-year Anniversary of the First-Year Program

In May of 2002, the First-Year Program at Holy Cross completed its 10th successful year. The First-Year Program, which helps first-year students explore the connections between living and learning - between what happens inside the classroom and the world outside the classroom - brings together 160 first-year students, all living in the same residence hall, and a group of distinguished teachers from a variety of different disciplines. Through a series of seminars, common readings, films, concerts, retreats and residence-hall discussions, FYP students and faculty explore the program's central theme, Leo Tolstoy's question How, Then,Shall We Live?

Since 1992, the program has received national attention and achieved enormous success including, improved classroom performance, more campus leadership, more community service and higher retention and graduation rates.

To commemorate the first decade of the First-Year Program, a 2-day celebration is planned for Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21. The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, in the Brooks Concert Hall, and will feature a presentation by Dr. Jill Ker Conway. Dr. Conway is President Emeritus of Smith College, Visiting Scholar and Professor in M.I.T.'s Program in Science, Technology, and Society, and the author of many books, including "The Road from Coorain," the first FYP common reading in September, 1992. Her speech is titled "Liberal Values in Twenty-First Century Lives."

On Saturday, September 21, there will be a series of panel discussions in the Rehm Library with current FYP students, alumni, and faculty participants. The schedule of events is:

9:30-10:30 a.m. - "The student faculty relationship:How is FYP different?"
Chaired by Professor Royce Singleton, sociology department

10:45-11:45 a.m. - "How then shall we live? The importance of the theme"
Chaired by Professor Predrag Cicovacki, philosophy department

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00-1:45 p.m. - "The Common Events: The FYP directors reflect on the highs and lows of the first decade"
Chaired by Professor Helen Whall, English department

2:00-3:00 p.m. - "The FYP legacy: FYP alumni after graduation."
Chair to be announced

3:15 - 4:15 p.m. - "A sibling for FYP: An all-common-texts FYP?"
Chaired by Professor James Kee, English department

 

Related information:

  • "Connecting the Academic and Social Lives of Students," Change Magazine (May/June 1998)
  • Holy Cross First-Year Program

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    August 23, 2002|nm