Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and Franciscan University of Steubenville are both recognizing the achievements of their graduating classes. GU-Q is honoring its newest graduating class in May, acknowledging their academic excellence, leadership roles, and contributions to community service. Among the graduates being recognized are Moza al-Kaabi, an International Politics major who served as president of the Qatari cultural organization, Al Liwan Club, and chair of the Georgetown Leadership Ambassadors program, and Renee Vongai Mutare, a social justice advocate who majored in International Economics and conducted grant-funded health research. Pragyan Acharya, an International Politics major, conducted research on education [6ce9265f]. Meanwhile, Franciscan University of Steubenville is preparing for its commencement ceremony, where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is scheduled to give the commencement address to the record-breaking class of 2024. The class consists of 896 students from 38 different states and 14 different countries, making it the largest ever at the university. Justice Alito will also receive an honorary doctorate in Christian ethics. Prior to the graduation ceremony, Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will preside at the baccalaureate Mass and give a homily. Franciscan University, known for its faithful Catholic identity, has the largest undergraduate theology program in the U.S. and has taken a stance against the Biden administration's use of Title IX for 'gender identity' politics. The university also offers a 'Crossroads Pro-Life Scholarship' to undergraduate students who volunteer for pro-life organizations or life-affirming pregnancy centers [a5f108cb].
In a recent Fox News op-ed, Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño outlined his plans to save higher education by advocating for a utilitarian approach. Moreno-Riaño argued that higher education should focus on employment skills and that anything beyond the 'preparation of students for the market' risks turning them into 'radical activists' [48be5e1f]. This philosophy aligns with the recent abolition of multiple arts and humanities programs and the termination of six tenured arts and humanities professors at Cornerstone University. The university's website still claims to value the liberal arts, but Moreno-Riaño's op-ed raises questions about the institution's commitment to this area of study. The fired humanities professors at Cornerstone University were respected members of their churches and the wider Christian academic community. The termination of humanities programs may be related to the high number of students these professors were able to reach in general education courses. Critics argue that the focus on market skills at Cornerstone University may come at the expense of teaching subjects that explore virtues such as truth, beauty, and goodness [48be5e1f].
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and Franciscan University of Steubenville are both recognizing the achievements of their graduating classes. GU-Q is honoring its newest graduating class in May, acknowledging their academic excellence, leadership roles, and contributions to community service. Among the graduates being recognized are Moza al-Kaabi, an International Politics major who served as president of the Qatari cultural organization, Al Liwan Club, and chair of the Georgetown Leadership Ambassadors program, and Renee Vongai Mutare, a social justice advocate who majored in International Economics and conducted grant-funded health research. Pragyan Acharya, an International Politics major, conducted research on education [6ce9265f]. Meanwhile, Franciscan University of Steubenville is preparing for its commencement ceremony, where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is scheduled to give the commencement address to the record-breaking class of 2024. The class consists of 896 students from 38 different states and 14 different countries, making it the largest ever at the university. Justice Alito will also receive an honorary doctorate in Christian ethics. Prior to the graduation ceremony, Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will preside at the baccalaureate Mass and give a homily. Franciscan University, known for its faithful Catholic identity, has the largest undergraduate theology program in the U.S. and has taken a stance against the Biden administration's use of Title IX for 'gender identity' politics. The university also offers a 'Crossroads Pro-Life Scholarship' to undergraduate students who volunteer for pro-life organizations or life-affirming pregnancy centers [a5f108cb].