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The Grade (2022 - 2023)
Program Overview
The Grade gives young men the practical, intellectual, and moral foundation to be a man of virtue. Through a combination of classes, study nights, one-on-one mentoring, and career presentations by successful professionals, it helps them develop the skills and attitude necessary to be effective in college and later on as a father, a professional, and a citizen.
The Grade seminars are part of the larger Grade program that offers weekly study nights as well throughout the year on Wednesdays. This year all seminars (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) meet on Wednesdays. While signing up for the program does not require students to attend every seminar or study night, the cost of the registration includes the entire program. Details for each grade level can be found below.
Mentoring
Each student will be assigned a mentor who guides him in applying the principles taught in the seminar. The mentor is like a coach who challenges and encourages each student to reach his best. Specifically, he helps the student set goals that are important and practical. Once a mentor is assigned to a student, the student can sign up for a time to be mentored each month during one of the study nights. This standing mentoring session is very important for ensuring the success of each student in The Grade.
Seminar on Study Night
Every week there is a Grade Study Night from 4:30-8:30pm. Once a month during that study night there will be a Grade seminar for a particular grade level. For example, the Freshman Grade seminar is usually on the first Wednesday of the month from 7:30-8:30pm. Obviously, the seminar aspect of the program is very important, but it is most beneficial to attend the study nights in general to get the most of what the staff of The Grade has to offer, including mentoring!
Here is the breakdown:
Study Night Calendar (4:30-8:30pm) on Wednesdays
All grades meet on Wednesdays.
Seminar Calendar (7:30-8:30pm)
1st Wed (except 9/21 & 1/18): Big Picture Seminar (Freshmen)
1st Wed (except 9/14 & 1/11): Study Skills Seminar (Sophomores)
2nd Wed: Filling the Gaps Seminar (Juniors & Seniors)
Complete Schedule:
4:30-6:30pm Open Study
6:30-7:00pm Optional Prayer
7:00-7:30pm Dinner (included in the cost of the program)
7:30-8:30pm Seminar (once a month)
7:00-8:30pm Open Study or Mentoring (when there is no seminar)
4:30-7:00pm
Open Study
+
Optional Prayer Time
Dinner
(included in cost of program)
7:00-7:30pm
7:30-8:30pm
Grade Seminar
(once a month)
Open Study or Mentoring
(when there is no seminar)
Freshmen: The Big Picture Seminar
The Freshman Seminar helps students see ‘the big picture’ of their life. Freshman year is not too early to start thinking about what kind of father, husband, professional, and friend one wants to be as an adult. Besides helping students to think about their future, the seminar addresses the challenges they will encounter along the way to maturity. Classes include a mixture of lecture, discussion, case studies, reading, and debate.
Sophomores: Study Skills Seminar
The Sophomore Study Skills Seminar provides a holistic approach to work which will assist students in both academic and professional life. Students learn strategies for working at their best based on developments in psychology and neuroscience. Students also learn to see their study as the foundation for serving others as virtuous leaders.
Juniors & Seniors: Filling the Gaps Seminar
One of the critical issues for our society is moral relativism–the idea that there are no abiding values by which to orient our lives. By giving students a philosophical grounding in topics surrounding truth, knowledge and the goal of human life, this seminar helps them to recognize and critique relativistic claims which are commonly advanced in the media, public policy and academia. As a result, they will be better prepared to continue their intellectual and cultural development in the university.
