The Cornerstone course required for incoming freshmen will take on a new look this semester in response to feedback from last year’s freshmen students.
Gregory Straughn, assistant provost for general education, said the new course would be focus on science, social science, art and theology and will have more cohesion with the topics discussed from week to week.
Straughn said faculty representing all departments voted on the concept of Cornerstone before it was implimented. Their goal was to develop a course that enabled students to focus on the foundation of critical thinking.
“Students were the largest voice in the conversaion,” Straughn said. “We owe the students the best experience possible and best preparation in their majors as possible.”
Carley Crawford, freshman English major from Hutto, is enrolled in the course and said the class would focus on thinking critically, globally and missionally. She believes she will enjoy it throughout the semester.
“I like the people in it,” Crawford said. “I think it’s going to be really relaxed.”
Straughn said the week by week structure of last year’s Cornerstone did not efficently establish a clear connection between topics. Also, the writing did not fit the scope of the class, he said.
“Last year we were building the course as we went along,” Straughn said. “The fact that the entire course is completed and ready this year puts us in a much better place.”
Straughn said the writing assignment for the course now parallels the structure of the class and utilizes data and statistics as well as the point of view of arts and theology.
Kristina Campos will act as the hostess for the weekly lectures. She will introduce speakers and help the students make clear connections from week to week while showing how the topics connect to the larger picture, Straughn said.
The course is now more intent, focused and streamlined than it has been previously, Straughn said. Additionally, all the other core classes will be examined this semester to improving them for the spring semester.
The Cornerstone course will address what it means to think about assumptions, evidence and implications, Straughn said.
“Developing the thought process is something that really has to be practiced,” Straughn said. “Those experiences in Cornerstone class … will serve anyone in any major.”
