Entering college can be an existentially vulnerable time for many. Luckily, Merrimack College is here to support and guide its newest enrollees with a brand-new course.
“Who am I?,” a new required course for all freshmen, aims to get students thinking critically and reflectively about their mission and purpose as human beings, not just as students, through individual writing assignments and group projects.
“In this course, students will be expected to read critically and engage with a variety of materials in an interdisciplinary approach,” said Austin Scholars curriculum director, Frances “Dorie” Mansen. “Students will be taught, practice and be supported on how to think critically and reflectively. The intention is that these skills will be a support for their other coursework – not just in general education but their majors and minors as well.”
Originally, Mansen designed “Who am I?” for Austin Scholars exclusively as a three credit “Explorations” course. Rev. Raymond F. Dlugos, O.S.A., and Mansen felt it would be prudent to expand the class into a full four-credit course as part of this year’s core curriculum revision.
“This (incoming) generation is being referred to as ‘the loneliest generation.’” said Fr. Ray. “There is no shortage of forces out there trying to tell us who we are for their own purposes and needs. It’s all about trying to get our students to be aware about the pressure they’re under and how to find some freedom to discover who they really are as opposed to having it imposed on them through the outside.”
The new and improved “Who am I?” course was molded around Merrimack’s Agenda for the Future, which advocates holistic formation programming for all students, and the teachings of St. Augustine.
“The person who asked the question, ‘Who am I?,’ better, longer and more thoroughly than any human being in history is St. Augustine,” said Fr. Ray. “(He taught) the idea that we are meant for relationships, that we are all in this together…not set against each other.”
“Who am I?” classes will be taught by faculty from every Merrimack school. Two upperclassmen mentors will also be assigned per classroom to assist with student needs. Mentors will receive internship credits for their work and regularly meet with “Who am I?” staff to discuss how the course is impacting their own sense of self.
“We’re hoping to foster a sense of belonging,” Mansen said. “We want students to find a place not just in the classroom but in different clubs, activities and other places where Merrimack fosters communities.”
Fr. Ray said he hopes to implement some aspect of community service into the course someday. Austin Scholars in the previous “Who am I?” course were required to log two hours of community service per week.
“We’re looking for creative ways to get (first-year students) engaged and involved with the wider community,” he explained. “We also want them to know how they are connected with everyone outside of Merrimack – in the big human story.”
