Program Goals

The Sharpe Community Scholars Program provides a unique setting for first year students to develop:

• An ability to work with others to promote social change, understand community needs and cultivate community assets
• An understanding of the processes by which public issues are defined, debated and addressed
• The communication skills and confidence to be effective participants and leaders in group discussions, debates and collective decision making processes
• Valuable connections with faculty members and peers based on shared co-curricular and related curricular interests and experiences
• An appreciation for opportunities in the wider community with the potential to extend and inform their programs of study at the College
• The capacity to adopt a variety of perspectives on social problems and to examine the ethical dimensions of issues arising in the context of community service work and research on social and civic matters
• An appreciation for the College's general education goals as they relate to students preparing to assume roles as engaged citizens living in a diverse democratic society
• A deeper understanding of ideas and concepts from courses linked to their community and public service experiences