CSU President and Provost Introduce THE RIVER to the CSU Community

CSU President Stuart Rayfield and CSU Provost Shannon Campbell recently unveiled in an e-mail to the CSU community their latest efforts to "reimagine Columbus State's core curriculum, improve student retention, and support [CSU's] student success strategies." This most recent element in that process is known as THE RIVER, which is designed to connect the campus with the community and to assist students in navigating the headwaters of college, community, and career. THE RIVER consists of a three-course, seven-hour sequence integrated into the core curriculum that is aimed at helping students acquire the critical thinking, communication, teamwork and creative problem-solving skills that CSU's partners and local employers urgently require. "Designed and imagined by an amazing CSU faculty team, these courses will enhance students’ first- and second-year experiences, campus traditions, and community engagement," the e-mail explained. According to Rayfield and Campbell, these new core courses will integrate key academic and student success priorities outlined in the NISS Playbook, by the University System of Georgia and in CSU's Better Together: 2030 strategic plan. THE RIVER will help students (1) build a network of friends, community collaborators and professional mentors, (2) chart a course for their professional lives, (3) widen their educational experiences beyond the classroom, (4) develop and apply critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and (5) develop essential career competencies and life skills. Libby McFalls, who has been appointed as the acting director of academic success experiences, is collaborating with faculty across campus to develop THE RIVER course sections. This team consists of Jonathan Meyers and Ron Williams. They, along with Shellie DeBruyn, Ryan Lynch, Dawn Frazier and Gisung Moon (finance professor and Chair of the Turner College's Department of Accounting and Finance), worked diligently last fall to craft this concept to support our institutional priorities while celebrating what makes our university and community unique. "This group drew inspiration from the Chattahoochee River, a connecting element central to our region and predominant in our university logo. As students traverse the core curriculum, THE RIVER will help them test the waters and chart a course for college and beyond," the e-mail explained. Going forward, McFalls is scheduling meetings with each academic department and school to detail how faculty can develop and tailor these courses to specific areas of study. THE RIVER team is also developing online resources to guide you as you seek ways to contribute to this effort.