GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University’s focus on supporting students and helping them successfully adjust to a collegiate environment is at the root of a program that is held before classes begin in the fall.
Meagan Stark
The university created the Cornerstone program for new students who have been accepted into Tusculum but would benefit from additional preparation prior to the start of classes. For eight days, these students receive more instruction in some academic subjects, take a College 101 class and participate in a wide array of workshops that touch on the higher education experience.
“One of the benefits of Tusculum being a smaller university is the individualized attention and mentoring students receive,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “We want our students to be successful and not only have access to college but also have access to graduation. The Cornerstone program is an excellent example of that approach to education and provides the infrastructure for these students to achieve.”
More than 20 students are participating in Cornerstone this year. The eight days they spend before the start of fall classes is called the summer bridge program, and some elements resemble what transpires in the fall and spring semesters. The students have set times for classes, and they will use the Canvas learning management system to track their coursework.
The workshops provide an extra layer of support for these students. During those sessions, they learn more about subjects such as technology, time management, tutoring, campus social and spiritual life, financial aid and mental health.
Meagan Stark serves as Cornerstone instructional leader. Tusculum students Jerry Ricker and Maria Torres are Cornerstone Pals, and many faculty and staff members are participating as facilitators and moderators for the summer bridge program.
At the conclusion of the summer bridge program, Cornerstone advances to the academic year phase, which will include meetings with trained academic success coaches, semester-long tutoring plans and advising services. This phase lasts throughout the fall and spring semesters.
“Cornerstone is a well-constructed program that is designed to ensure students have the tools they need when classes start in the fall,” Stark said. “Faculty and staff members are invested in these students and their attainment of a college degree because it can transform their lives. When these students graduate from Tusculum, they will be career-ready professionals ready to make their mark on their communities and the world.”
Dr. Chris Shumate stands in front of the Thomas J. Garland Library.
Dr. Scott Hummel
The word “Cornerstone” has practical and spiritual applications for the students.
“What these students are doing during the eight days they spend before classes is laying the foundation for the rest of their journey at Tusculum,” said Dr. Chris Shumate, the university’s assistant vice president of student affairs and campus minister. “This is just the beginning, but it’s really important because everything else will be built on the foundation they put in place during this week.”
Dr. Shumate referenced Luke 14:28-30, where Jesus talks about someone who builds a tower. The passage asks what builder does not first calculate the cost of constructing the tower and consider whether he has enough to complete it. This is important because if someone starts a project but does not finish it, there are repercussions.
“We believe these students have what it takes to not only start this journey but to finish and finish well,” Dr. Shumate said. “We believe in them. But we also want them to take this program seriously and think about what it’s going to require of them. We want to make sure they set their cornerstone down properly so they can build on that good foundation.”
To learn more about Cornerstone, please email Stark at mstark@tusculum.edu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.