Workshops and Capstone

General Information

In addition to regularly-scheduled classes, Edge engages students with weekly workshops designed to instill practical skillsets in its students. These workshops serve as components of a larger, mandatory pass/fail capstone assignment: An interactive blog, Tumblr, or Facebook-based project managed by the student that will combine the student's practical expertise, creative talents and social media skill.

The Edge Scholar Workshop

The Edge Scholar workshop is designed to prepare students for the rigor of both the college application process and the adjustment of freshman life. By completing the workshop, students will be able to successfully navigate the complexities of applying to college.

Note: All Edge attendees will be automatically enrolled in UNIV 167-930, the Edge Scholar Workshop. No action is required on the part of the applicant to enroll in the course.

Workshop topics include:

  • Written Communication (writing on a college level, formulating an essay, etc.)
  • Verbal Communication (college/career interviewing skills, public speaking)
  • College Preparation (how to plan and apply for college)
  • Studying and Research (conducting undergraduate research, effective use of library resources, effective time management, useful studying habits)
  • Leadership and Service (service learning, community service, etc.)

Workshops meet twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:30PM to 5PM, and are administered by Edge staff and other university officials. Workshop attendance is mandatory, as students are expected to complete weekly assignments in preparation for the final capstone project.

The Edge Scholar Capstone

Ongoing throughout the 5-week program, students will be required to maintain a blog-based project (either via Blogspot/Wordpress, Tumblr, Facebook, or some other web tool) in conjunction with the Edge Scholar Workshop (for a minimum total of 5 entries/posts.) This capstone blog will explore students' thoughts as they relate to the workshop topics, specifically in regards to college, leadership, service, research, and culture.

For this capstone project, students are expected to use the research, writing, and creative skills they have gained in both the weekly workshops and from their daily classes to formulate a well-supported series of opinion pieces that include text, links, photos, primary source citations, and other elements.

Capstones are evaluated by the Edge staff at the end of the 5-week program.