Brown Scholars Program Overview
This four-year, sequential program addresses the benefits and responsibilities accompanying membership in various communities. As scholars progress,their understanding of "community" broadens and deepens. The call to assume the mantle of leadership sounds loudly from day one in the program.
Freshman Year
Becoming a member of the college learning community. First year scholars focus on topics related to success and leadership, especially within the Bellarmine community. There is also a strong emphasis on becoming acquainted with one another as well as the faculty and administrators at Bellarmine. As is true with all four years in the program, learning outcomes address leadership and communication skills.
Specifically, in terms of Objectives, students are expected to demonstrate their abilities in the following areas:
- Leadership skills:
- Students will demonstrate ways in which they have reflected on who they are, as people and leaders -- key in true leadership.
- As potential leaders and problem-solvers, students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively in groups.
- As leaders on campus, students will demonstrate leadership through campus involvement and required service.
- As leaders, students will demonstrate an awareness of the importance of tolerance for and appreciation of difference/diversity.
- As leaders, students will donate 5 hours of service to both an on-campus and an off-campus event or organization and demonstrate an
awareness of themselves as leaders and systemic realities of planning such events through formal writings addressing these concerns.
- Communication skills:
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Students will demonstrate college-level reading skills (with an emphasis on close reading beyond surface details).
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Students will demonstrate college-speaking skills, through both formal, planned presentations and impromptu speaking events.
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Students will demonstrate college-level writing skills through major essays, shorter and more informal reflective pieces, in-class, impromptu writings, and through some technical writing (resume, cover letter, business letters, and memo).
- Thinking skills:
- Students will demonstrate college-level thinking skills through the various requirements in the courses.
- Technology skills:
- Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize on-line syllabi and all other course materials.
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Students will demonstrate the ability to develop power point presentations and to make use of the facilities in an online classroom to make the presentations.
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Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct online research.
- Academic Resource Center use:
- Students will demonstrate the ability to successfully utilize peer reading/revision sessions in the ARC.
- Community involvement skills:
- Students will demonstrate the ability to seek out and attend campus events.
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Students will demonstrate leadership within some arena of campus life.
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Students will attend at least two cultural events on campus and two cultural events off campus.
Courses Include:
- A fall freshman seminar. (A seminar is required of all freshmen; this one has been specifically designed for the Brown Scholars.) This year's course is entitled "Destinations: Who am I, and Where do I fit in?" and is being taught by Dr. Catherine Sutton, a member of the English Dept. and the Director of Advising and the Academic Resource Center.
- A spring writing course entitled "The Composition of Leadership." This course fulfills the composition course required of all freshmen. If students have already completed this course (through AP or ACCESS credit) they receive credit for English 309, Technical Writing.
Sophomore Year
Becoming a member of the civic community. Second year scholars participate in a course designed on the Leadership Louisville model. Students learn, in depth, what it means to be an integral part of one's community as they visit various local sites (government, arts, health care, businesses, etc.).
The course in which students are enrolled follows the guidelines established for the American Experience course (required of all students).
Junior Year
Becoming a member of the global community. Third year scholars are exposed to various experiences in which they encounter diverse communities at the local, national, and international levels. Partially funded travel (through the J. Graham Brown Foundation grant) allows students to broaden their understanding of and appreciation for differences.
The course in which students are enrolled follows the guidelines established for the Transcultural Experience course (required of all students).
Senior Year
Becoming a member of the world of work. Fourth year scholars complete their required Senior Seminar course. This class addresses the "nuts and bolts" necessary for pursuing and maintaining a career. Also discussed are more philosophical issues such as the nature of good work, the ethical demands of today's careers, and students' sense of themselves in an ever changing world and job market.
Scholars are required to complete a capstone project in the course that integrates learning and focuses on creating a life worth living.