The three elements are woven together to help students develop a
greater sense of their “paideia” (or sum total of their
education). The Paideia Program provides students with the opportunity
to build their education, intentionally, through the weaving together
of the five strands:
• Civic Engagement
• Intercultural/ Diversity experience
• Undergraduate Research & creative works
As a signature element to the program, Paideia Scholars work closely
with “Paideia Professors” who play a vital role in helping
students make intentional connections among their experiences in
ways that encourage them to reflect on what they learned and how
they grew through each experience. Such reflection supports what
liberal arts study aims to do: encourage students to become critical
thinkers and broaden their perspective on the world around them.
Paideia Scholars are always invited to provide feedback directly to their Paideia Professor and to the Director of the Paideia Program. In addition, each seminar section has an elected representative who meets with the Paideia Professors and the Director several times during the semester to provide feedback from the seminar section. In 2003-2004, the Paideia Student Representatives made many suggestions that were incorporated into the Spring 2004 syllabus. Students will also gain more and more ownership over the seminar in subsequent semesters. Students are also encouraged to create "Paideia-like" opportunities - like using the listserv to get groups of Paideia Scholars to meet informally to discuss a movie or a speaker- or suggesting an all-Paideia activity.
