ACS Workshop: Building Meaningful First‑Year Experiences

June 16, 2026 – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (Virtual Workshop)
Please register using the form at the bottom of this page.

Join colleagues from across the Associated Colleges of the South for a virtual workshop led by Dr. Michelle Hite, Ph.D. of Spelman College, as part of ACS’s participation in the Teagle Foundation’s Cornerstone initiative. Designed for faculty who teach first‑year courses as well as curriculum leaders and FYE program staff, this session will offer a collaborative space to explore how ACS campuses structure their first‑year experience, including approaches to centering the humanities, launching general education pathways, and incorporating common texts to build a shared student experience. Participants will engage with examples from peer institutions, reflect on their own campus models, and explore opportunities for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration amidst our changing environment. The workshop will also outline potential next steps for campuses interested in considering a Teagle planning or implementation grant to support ongoing efforts.

Click here to learn about the facilitator for this workshop.

Michelle S. Hite, Ph.D., has been a faculty member at Spelman College since 2004. She is an associate professor in the Department of Literature, Media and Writing; Director of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program; Director of International Fellowships and Scholarships; and President of the Toni Morrison Society. She also directs Spelman’s First-Year Experience (FYE), where she has developed a curriculum centered on the Habits of Mind for Intellectual Sovereignty, integrating shared sisterhood journals and student-led roundtables as extensions of that work to cultivate point of view, intellectual community, and the disciplined practices of listening and exchange.

We look forward to your participation in these community-driven conversations and learning opportunities. Contact workshops@acsouth.edu with questions.

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