Программа Montserrat в колледже Holy Cross объединяет студентов в единое сообщество для всестороннего развития

The Montserrat Experience Your Montserrat seminar is more than a college course; it’s a living and learning experience unlike anything you’ve encountered before. Classmates become friends, and faculty, mentors, as you examine essential human questions over the course of your first year at Holy Cross. Echoing the spiritual and intellectual journey of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Montserrat program educates the whole person through an immersive experience of living, learning and reflecting together. Through Montserrat, first-year students develop as critical thinkers, public speakers and analytical writers in an environment that encourages lively discussion, respect for others and growth for all. What Students are Saying* 90% of first-year students say their Montserrat seminar provided them with a strong and supportive community 93% say their Montserrat seminar professor provided them with the support that helped them academically 97% say their Montserrat experience improved their ability to listen to and respect the views of others and engage in meaningful dialogue Academic Excellence Delivered Seminar-Style Each first-year student is placed in a small, year-long seminar with a single professor and same-aged peers. Seminars vary in disciplines, aggregated into one of six themes: Contemporary Challenges Core Human Questions Divine Global Society Natural World Self Clusters are led by Holy Cross faculty and headed by  Professor Bridget Franco, Montserrat director.  My professor took the time to walk us through what a good analytical essay looks like and the steps we need to take to achieve this in our own writing. After class, I felt much more prepared to take on the challenge of writing an analytical essay and felt confident in my ability to succeed in this assignment. "Montserrat helped me find my passion and my path." — Éowyn Bailey ’26, Fenwick Scholar Read Eowyn's Story The Invisible Curriculum In addition to addressing life’s big questions, the Montserrat seminar is meant to address concerns students have about first-year college life: What academic support services are available to me? Who do I talk to about dorm life or extracurricular activities? What health and wellness programs address my needs? Montserrat seminar professors introduce students to the invisible curriculum, providing an insider’s guide to campus living. The Student-Faculty Relationship Montserrat faculty accompany first-year students on this journey of self-discovery, acting not only as instructors, but also as advisors on their first-year experience. When I think about my Montserrat experience, I think about the great friendships I’ve made and the great relationship I have with my professor. I felt I could go to any of them for pretty much anything. Out of all the classes that I took this year, my Montserrat course was the one that I found most applicable to everyday life. Living and Learning Together In this critical first year, Montserrat students live together and participate in activities and events, both on campus and off, meant to foster belonging to the College and to the larger Worcester community. Many Montserrat seminars also incorporate community-based, real-world learning experiences that complement students' coursework. Additionally, Montserrat cluster directors plan social outings such as trips to local orchards or sporting events to expose students to all their new home has to offer. As a first-year, pre-med student, I saw Montserrat getting in my way, but I grew to love it. Montserrat showed me the resources the College offers, like the Center for Writing and academic coaching. If you give it a chance, you’ll see how beneficial this program is to you. Cluster Spotlight: Core Human Questions The Core Human Questions cluster invites students to love and live the questions that are at the heart of human experience and the center of a liberal arts education. Drawn from the disciplines of literature, philosophy, psychology and sociology, our seminars pose the questions that are at the core of human life: What does it take to be human? What constitutes a life of meaning? And how should we live as individuals and in relation to others? Our seminars encourage students to explore the experience of human life by asking what is possible in this weird and wonderful world of ours; what a well-lived life looks like; how we move through the world as mindful human beings.