About Us

The Sophomore Program was developed to address two important topics:

  1. The special student development needs of second year students. Including clarifying identities, deepening relationships, and bring career goals into focus.
  2. Providing a critical bridge between first year skills development and the junior and senior years when students are expected to understand the power of their liberal arts education, and appreciate its relevance to their growth as scholars and citizens.

Through purposeful programming and small group activities, participants in this program will:

  • Plan their education intentionally
  • Be aware of the benefits of study aboard, research and internships
  • Have an increased understanding of the impact that a Liberal Arts Education has on their adult life

Now in it's third year of inception, the Sophomore Program has become a one-credit Student Development class (STDV 651), complete with a 10-class fall curriculum, and a series of optional programming during the spring semester.  We made this move for two main reasons:

  1.  The class structure was less ambigious to our students
  2. We felt that making our program a class complete with a curriculum would provide our program more structure.

 

Program Goals and Outcomes

  • Aid second-year students in developing competency, achieving autonomy, and developing purpose in regards to their educational and personal lives
  • Assist students in learning more about themselves, their interests, where they're going, and how Hiram can aid them in getting there
  • Assist students in learning the importance of planning their education intentionally; in order to show them how thinking through their educational experiences and setting academic/career goals, can lead to a more rewarding educatoinal experience
  • Aid students in exploring majors, internships, study abroad, and research opportunities of interest
  • Educate students on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle; inform them of how such choices can effect their college experience
  • Facilitate an environment that allows students to form friendships and closer relationship with their classmates
     

Funding Information

Hiram College submitted a grant proposal to McGregor Fund of $100,000 for three years. Based on the proposal Hiram College would help support a percentage of the funding for the Sophomore Program. The proposal was approved and the project is currently in its second "pilot year". For more information please contact Kathryn Craig, Director of the Career Center at 330-569-5131 or craigkm@hiram.edu.