{"id":446,"date":"2023-11-14T16:03:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T16:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/presidentsreport\/2023\/?page_id=446"},"modified":"2023-12-07T14:15:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:15:58","slug":"the-furman-advantage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/presidentsreport\/2023\/the-furman-advantage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Furman Advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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THE
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For our students, a purposeful life begins to take shape where excellent teaching meets mentoring\nand advising.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

And, when engaged learning is deepened through reflection. This life gathers more definition still when a student\u2019s career exploration is guided by the development of their strengths and interests, a journey that helps them to identify their values.<\/p>\n\n

The Furman Advantage<\/b><\/a>, the university\u2019s four-year framework, is shaped by these purpose-defining elements \u2013 mentoring, advising, engaged learning and classroom learning \u2013 and it begins with the Pathways Program<\/b><\/a>. This two-year curriculum was offered to all incoming students for the first time this\npast academic year, following a vote by the faculty in March of 2022.<\/p>\n\n

Belonging, purpose and post-graduation preparation increase affinity, according to Gallup, with\nbelonging identified as the most powerful factor in a student\u2019s likelihood to recommend their school to\nothers.<\/p>\n\n

These elements are strengthened through the four-year pathway, with the Pathways Program\ncurriculum helping to ease students\u2019 transition to college by connecting them to campus resources and\nthen encouraging students to reflect on who they are, what they value and what they want to pursue\nboth in and out of the classroom. This is followed by department-specific programming in years 3 and 4\nthat help students learn about careers in their discipline and discipline-specific expectations.<\/p>\n\nGallup data show that belonging and mattering has increased in first-year students:\n