Belmont Abbey College

The First-Year Program at Belmont Abbey College is meant to help students in the transition from high school to college as they strive to adjust to the academic and residential life of the campus. The main feature of the program is the first-year symposium, which leads students through shared academic and social experiences with 14-17 of their classmates. Symposium faculty serve as academic advisors, and students may also be assisted by an upper-class peer mentor. Beyond the classroom, the First-Year Program introduces students to the resources and traditions of the College

The First Year Symposium (FS101) is required of all first-year students as part of their introduction to the Benedictine mission and the academic life of the college. Common summer readings and whole-class activities enrich the student's experience in small class settings which incorporate instructors’ various areas of expertise throughout the term (3 credits, offered each fall).

The course helps students to develop the skills that are necessary for meeting the academic demands of the college and assisting them in their assimilation into a new learning community. Through the reading and discussion of the symposium, first-year students begin to develop an appreciation for the values and perspectives that will shape their educational experiences. Through shared academic and social experiences, students also develop constructive relationships with other members of their first-year class.

The goals of the symposium are as follows.

• Students will come away from the course with an introductory understanding of Catholic and Benedictine traditions, recognize the importance of values that grow from those traditions, and become aware of how these values shape the way one might live a balanced life in community.
• Consistent with the Benedictine tradition of the College, students will value belonging to and will participate in a community of respect and accountability.
• Students will develop an understanding of the nature of liberal arts education; by which knowledge is gained and connected through diverse ways of knowing.
• Students will come to understand the academic expectations of Belmont Abbey College, to value academic rigor and curiosity, and to develop the habits of mind of an active, engaged learner.
• Students will begin to develop oral and written communication skills and become comfortable engaging in critical, reflective thought

As you begin your college career at Belmont Abbey College, sponsored by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey, one of the first things we hope you will notice is that the campus is serious about welcoming you to the Belmont Abbey College community. Monks believe that all creation is a gift from God and therefore should be treated with respect and reverence. All are called to use wisely and well the gifts that have been given to us. In light of this fundamental value of the monastic life, we have chosen “A Call to Holiness: Seeking Economic Justice for All as the theme for this year’s First-Year Symposium.

A liberal arts education changes individuals by teaching them to think critically and in new ways. While change is a necessary part of this process there are certain elements that remain constant, particularly in the Benedictine tradition of education.