The Teagle Foundation Board of Directors has approved a $25,000 planning grant for Rose State College, marking an exciting step toward reimagining the college’s General Education curriculum. Dr. Stacey and Dr. Bachhofer submitted the successful proposal during the Spring 2025 semester.
“The Teagle Cornerstone grant is a crucial investment in the future of our democracy because it is designed to encourage discourse and critical thinking in general education courses that have largely been stuck in the textbook-testing model,” said Dr. Emily Stacey, professor and coordinator of political science at RSC. “The Learned Minds Team courses at Rose State College will be vigorous, enlightening classes that will better prepare our students for OU, Cornell University, or wherever they want to complete their higher education careers.”
This grant launches the college into the design phase of a larger and more ambitious proposal—one that could be worth up to $300,000. The comprehensive redesign will focus on enhancing General Education courses and introducing a new Social Sciences Degree Option, along with a stand-alone certificate.
Initially, the redesign will impact the following departments: Political Science, History, English, Psychology, and Sociology. Over time, the initiative aims to expand across the entire campus, inviting broader participation from faculty and departments.
At the heart of this transformation lies a renewed emphasis on using primary literature and classroom dialogue in General Education courses. Faculty development will serve as a cornerstone of the project, ensuring instructors are well-equipped to lead engaging, discussion-driven learning experiences. “Education that asks students to read canonical texts and primary sources, and then discuss them with their peers and professors, is a classical approach to fostering critical thinking and deeply personal analysis of the world. It is an approach that demands discipline, and it is rarely used in General Education to the degree proposed by the Learned Mind Team. I am beyond excited to be a part of this rich experience, and I know that students will reap benefits from it long after they leave Rose State College.”
This grant represents more than funding—it signifies a shared commitment to elevating the educational experience for students at Rose State College.