The Connections objectives have been framed as three big questions that students should be able to answer at the end of the course. In referencing assignments, workshops, and activities back to the big questions, we focus on the "whys" and "hows" of a university education. The intention is to help students become "intentional learners" who understand how to get the most out of their education and how to address challenges that affect college students.
Why am I here?
- What does it mean to become a learner, and what are the intellectual habits of mind that allow learners to contribute to society—within professions and communities—as Citizen Scholars?
- How is the Utah State University degree and each course intentionally designed to help me become a Citizen Scholar?
- How will I intentionally design my university experience in order to develop the intellectual habits of mind needed to contribute to my community as a Citizen Scholar?
How do I best engage myself in the process of becoming an educated person?
- What behavioral habits of mind do successful students have?
- What behavioral habits do I have that are productive, and which do I need to develop to succeed at the university and beyond?
- How will I intentionally engage with available resources to help me meet my goals?
How do I become a fully engaged member of the university community?
- What are USU's shared values, and why are they essential to creating a safe, respectful, and engaging learning community?
- How do I enact these values, and engage in building my own learning community, and cultivate a sense of belonging within the Aggie family?
- What have I learned from Connections about how to intentionally build and maintain mentoring relationships?