Monday Morning Update

November 17, 2008

Student Engagement: Our students report that their Stonehill education is enriching and challenging. According to the 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement, Stonehill outperforms the top 10% of colleges nationwide in offering seniors enriching educational experiences. Our first-year students tell NSSE that the College challenges them intellectually and creatively. Students also say the College does an excellent job of supporting them academically and socially.

International Education Week: Photos from Morocco, Greece and France took the top spots in this semester's photo contest sponsored by the Office of International Programs. Fine Arts major Laura Norris '09 won first and second place with photos of the Eiffel Tower and the Greek island of Santorini. Sociology major Jen Ward '09 captured a Moroccan desert scene while French major Ashleigh Simpson '09 explored the beauty of a 15th century cathedral. The NSSE survey reports that almost 50% of seniors have studied abroad, so our world-traveling photographers are increasingly the norm at Stonehill. To see their winning photos, visit here.

Foremost Expert: Television's highest rated science series, the award-winning NOVA on PBS, prominently features Professor of Religious Studies Michael Coogan in its new two-hour documentary The Bible's Buried Secrets, which airs on WGBH Boston tomorrow, Tuesday, at 8 p.m. An acclaimed biblical scholar, Coogan has taught at Stonehill since 1985. To learn more about Coogan's role as a "foremost expert" for NOVA, visit here.

Classic Picnic: A handsome stranger sets a small town a-flutter in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Picnic which the Stonehill Theatre Company will perform at 8 p.m. in Hemingway Theater, November 20, 21, & 22. Tickets are $8 general admission, $5 students & seniors. For reservations, call 508-565-1458. For more on this classic production, visit here.

Rugby Champions: In their first year in Division II, our women's rugby team won the Northeast Championship. With a dramatic win over defending champion Norwich, the team ended the season with a 10-0 record and will now participate in the USA Rugby National Championships this spring. For more on this story, visit here.

Community Partners: Progress continues on the House of Possibilities respite home for families of people with cognitive and physical disabilities that is being built next to Moreau Hall on Route 138. Involving Stonehill, the Yawkey Foundation and the House of Possibilities, the House will open in the spring. To learn more about this grass roots initiative, visit here.