The Hilbert Blueprint represents our college’s distinctive approach to providing transformative learning experiences within a liberal arts and Franciscan context.
This model is both progressive and holistic: by offering students a step-by-step pathway to develop their academic voices, clarify their values, and develop projects with real-world significance, the Blueprint gives students opportunities to develop a curiosity for learning—about oneself, others, and the world—and to become engaged members of their communities.
The structure of the Blueprint is shaped by and supports the three foundational pillars outlined in our mission and vision statements: our Catholic, Franciscan tradition; the classical ideals of liberal arts education; and the principles of civic engagement and service learning.
The objective of the Blueprint is to provide students with individual and shared learning experiences that emphasize the following goals:
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Demonstrating curiosity and developing the reasoning and problem-solving skills of an engaged college learner.
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Becoming a critical interpreter of our global community and its cultures.
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Supporting multiculturalism and demonstrating an openness and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Critically reflecting on connections between academic learning, civic engagement, service to the community, and spiritual growth.
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Employing the college’s Franciscan values in academic and co-curricular settings.
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Creating a foundation for the lifelong pursuit of skill development, vocation discernment, professional achievement, and personal passions.
First-Year Experience
All incoming first-year students participate in the First-Year Experience, which consists of BLU 101: Foundations Seminar and BLU 151: Public Speaking. BLU 101 is designed to acquaint students with the college, its resources, opportunities for involvement and academic expectations. All first-year students participate in the Hilbert Reads program and may have an opportunity to meet the author of the selected book.
In the spring semester, first-year students take BLU 151: Public Speaking, where they continue to develop their oral communication skills and engage in civil, respectful discourse with their classmates.
Sophomore Service Learning
In their sophomore year, students will take BLU 201: Service Learning and Civic Engagement. This course, which builds on BLU 101 and BLU 151, provides students with an opportunity to explore one or more social concerns within the local community. Catholic social teaching principles and Hilbert’s Catholic, Franciscan heritage provide a framework for students to understand their own personal experiences and to develop a critical perspective on civics and justice. Knowledge gained through in-class activities, readings, and lectures is applied through development of a semester-long service-learning experience with a community partner. This service-learning experience will help address the immediate needs of the community and develop a student’s sense of civic responsibility.
Junior Symposium
Three professors from different disciplines teach BLU 301: Junior Symposium, the third-year Blueprint class. This team-taught approach provides students with a unique opportunity to consider world events from multiple perspectives. Building on skills learned in the previous Blueprint classes, students use The New York Times as their text and engage in active debates and student-led discussions, reinforcing the importance of civil discourse and allowing students to consider how current events impact their lives.
Senior Capstone Experience
The Hilbert Blueprint culminates with the Senior Capstone. Unique to each department, the capstone could be—but is not limited to—a research project, seminar, internship, or research paper. The Senior Capstone is designed to synthesize the student’s four-year educational experience and support the college’s mission to produce “informed citizens committed to serving and strengthening their communities.”
Opportunities at Hilbert
There are numerous opportunities offered at Hilbert that enhance the goals of the Hilbert Blueprint and emphasize personal and professional growth. Leadership opportunities, internships, study abroad, and community service provide students with transformative experiences designed to strengthen students’ decision-making, teamwork, and confidence.