Teagle Foundation/NEH grant awarded to Transylvania to enhance humanities curriculum
Summary
LEXINGTON, Ky. Transylvania University will receive $250,000 from a joint endeavor between the Teagle Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities to help students engage with literature, philosophy and history. The goal is to assist students with gaining confidence in approaching and discussing transformative texts so they can boost their own understanding of the world and take steps toward making meaningful connections with others on campus and in the community.By grappling with complex problems and thorny questions and collaborating with classmates and faculty in the kinds of academic exploration that lead to real personal transformation, our students will build both their intellectual confidence and their intellectual humility while seeing how they can participate in centuries-long conversations, said Rebecca Thomas, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university.Over the two years of the grant, project directors and professors Brian Arganbright, Simonetta Cochis and Zoe Strecker will use the funding to enhance Transylvanias required first-year seminars by organizing several sections around transformative texts. The faculty at Transylvania University have been thinking thoroughly and creatively about how we can best do that in accord with our mission, our core values, our strategic focus and our aspirations for our students, said President Brien Lewis. The approach offered here is rooted in strong and effective humanities and liberal arts traditions and provides foundational and capstone bookends that intentionally connect the profound ideas and implications that students will explore throughout their undergraduate experience.The Teagle Foundation works to support and strengthen liberal arts education, which it sees as fundamental to meaningful work, effective citizenship and a fulfilling life. It aims to catalyze the improvement of teaching and learning in the arts and sciences while addressing issues of financial sustainability and accountability in higher education.