About the Program
Knowledge for Freedom: Migration, Democracy, & the American Experiment is a cost-free, eleven-month program intended to help rising seniors from San Antonio high schools engage advanced ideas about democracy in a university context. The first five weeks of the program is residential, offering the students an opportunity to be immersed in the experiences of university student life on-campus. All students will receive free room and board during the residential period. Following that period, students will receive expert guidance from UTSA’s outstanding Knowledge for Freedom staff. They will assist students with the college application and scholarship processes and guide them all through a successful civic engagement project that will truly make them stand out in the eyes of university admission officers.
Academics
During the first five weeks, students will experience what a real college seminar is like. Two of our award-winning professors will lead a team of high-achieving, well-trained student mentors to engage participants in the key places where freedom, migration, and democracy intersect. The curriculum assigns primary texts from some of the most prominent authors and political theorists in world history, following a canon which spans more than 2,000 years. After reading the assigned texts, students will participate in Socratic discussions, led by our professors, with the aim of using the gained knowledge to foster a stronger sense of civic leadership.
College Preparation
In the year following the summer program, participants will be paired with a university student mentor working under our exceptional Honors College. They will work to answer any questions students might have about the college application process, assist with clarifying the many questions that arise during such a major life change, and offer direction as to where UTSA can offer the best resources.
Additionally, students will have access to the outstanding staff of the Honors College’s Experiential Learning Lab and may attend Honors events, informational sessions, or guidance sessions at any time during the following academic year.
Civic Engagement Project
Post-seminar, graduates will work in small teams to design and implement a civic engagement project that has a direct impact on local populations in San Antonio and people around the globe. Working with our trained staff and student mentors, Knowledge for Freedom graduates will meet to build and execute a project that will demonstrate their ability to positively affect our inclusive democracy.
