Fairfield's "The Core" Timeline - History At-A-Glance
Fairfield's Core curriculum combines tradition and innovation. At Fairfield, we have adapted the best of the past to suit the needs of students today. Check below for an at-a-glance history of "The Core" in Jesuit education and specifically at Fairfield.
9th- |
Medieval schools of general studies (studia generalia) are founded |
11th C. |
First universities founded at Bologna, Paris and Oxford |
12th-18th C. |
Most universities offer a core curriculum based on 7 liberal arts:
Students study under the professional faculties of medicine, law, and theology. Final examinations are grueling, and many students fail. |
| 1540 | The Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) is founded. At the request of the Pope, they begin to found and administer secondary schools (colleges) and later universities. |
1599 |
Ratio Studiorum (method / system of study) is established by the Jesuits |
17th C. |
Rise of Enlightenment rationality, scientific method, and modernism |
18th- |
Displacement of religion in European universities |
1920s |
Changes in higher education begin as Columbia University adopts longest continuing core curriculum, Antioch College requires students to work full-time every 5 weeks, and Bennington College grants students a large say in making rules under which they live |
1930s |
University of Chicago pioneers Hutchins' "Great Books" curriculum of "unalterable first principles the same for all men always and everywhere" |
1942 |
Fairfield University is founded |
1945 |
Harvard's report General Education in a Free Society (the "Red Book") declares against vocationalism of both Hutchins and high school, urging general curriculum in English, science, mathematics and social science |
1945 |
G.I. Bill in U.S. begins great expansion of enrollment in higher education |
1955-1975 |
Great expansion of higher education curriculum and governance |
1970 |
Fairfield University adopts its current core curriculum |
1982 |
Fairfield adopts current mission statement |
1990s |
Resurgence of scholarship on Jesuit higher education, such as Ratio Studiorum: 400th Anniversary Perspectives |
1999 |
Fairfield adopts Mission of the Core, with learning objectives for arts and sciences disciplines such as empirical observation, falsifiability of scientific theories, moral reasoning and writing for a range of purposes and audiences |
2001 |
Fairfield reports on Core Assessment, calling for holistic assessment of student learning, and, and faculty development and support to improve pedagogy, and specific support for part-time faculty teaching the core |
2004-2005 |
Fairfield task forces collect and analyze data, and make recommendations for the 3 goals of 1) integration of learning in the core, 2) integration of living and learning, and 3) integration of Jesuit values in graduate and professional education |
2005 |
Fairfield adopts strategic plan for the 3 goals |
2005 |
Fairfield hosts core integration brown bag lunches for faculty to voice ideas |
2006 |
"Spellings Report" of U.S. Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education calls for evidence of value added to students' academic baseline through teaching and learning |
2006 |
Fairfield University kicks off activities to support faculty in driving integration of the core |
2009 |
Faculty identifies and formulates initial Pathways language |
2010 |
"Meet the Pathways" event launches the 6 Pathways to Core Integration: Engaging Traditions (formerly Appropriating Wisdom), Creative and Aesthetic Engagement, Global Citizenship, Quantitative Reasoning, Rhetoric and Reflection, Scientific Reasoning. |
2011 |
Fairfield launches a comprehensive Core website |