Holy Cross’ first year program, Montserrat, has been the subject of many questions from students and parents over the past few years. The conversation usually begins, “I read about that program, Mont….?” Though many struggle with the pronunciation (sound it out-it’s easier than it looks!), most are intrigued by its goals and excited to participate.
For those of you who have never heard of Montserrat, or those of you who are excited about it but still don’t completely understand what it is, this blog’s for you.
Learning: Your Montserrat seminar
-the Montserrat seminar is one of your four courses during your freshman year
-it’s a year-long course (other courses are semester-long)
-there will be only first-year students in the class (you may have upperclassmen in other courses)
-classes are small and discussion-based
-students select their top choices (from nearly fifty seminars) and are placed in one of those classes
-some seminars are team-taught by two or more professors
-sample seminars from 2009-2010: The Structure of the Mind, Violence & Non-Violence and Literature & Science
Living: Residence hall life
-first year students are housed in three residence halls
-students are grouped together by cluster (groups of seminars) ensuring that all students in your seminar will also live in your residence hall
-students participate in programming like banquet dinners, documentary screenings, and author talks
Doing: Getting involved in the campus community and beyond
Past students have:
-conducted a memoir-writing workshop to help local high school students find their voices
-organized a student panel discussion about racial and ethnic relations on college campuses
-interviewed Southeast Asian-Americans in Worcester about their life histories
-received special training from Worcester Art Museum curators to lead visitors through an Italian painting exhibition
To learn more, visit the Montserrat website.
Lynn Verrecchia
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions
