Summer Letter

Dear Foundations Student,

Welcome to Siena College and to the Foundations Sequence – a year-long course that must be taken by all first-year students. The Foundations Sequence is an introduction to the life of the mind that explores enduring questions about human existence from a variety of intellectual and cultural perspectives. The meaning of responsibility serves as the overall theme for the year. The Fall Semester investigates questions about nature, society, and the person, while the Spring Semester focuses on religious and secular worldviews and the American Experience.

Students meet in small classes with the same instructor for both semesters. To encourage dialogue among students, Foundations has adopted a common set of readings, both classic and contemporary, drawn from various disciplines. The sequence emphasizes oral and written communication skills, careful reading, critical thinking and interactive discussion. To reinforce the notion that education in the widest sense occurs as much outside of the classroom as within, the program requires a field trip to a cultural or artistic site.

In addition, a required summer reading offers incoming first-year students a common intellectual experience and introduces some of the questions that Foundations will explore throughout the academic year. This year we have selected Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist for your summer reading. If you will be on Siena's campus this summer, you can purchase the book at Siena's Bookstore. Otherwise, feel free to purchase it at your local bookstore.

Requirements for the Summer Assignment:

·         Read the book slowly and thoroughly, keeping in mind the themes of the course: the overall theme of responsibility, as well as human nature, our relationships with society and with the natural world, secular and religious worldviews, and the American experience.

·         This is a provocative book, so you should be prepared to have strong reactions to it. You may feel shocked, angry, sad, and/or confused as you read. Expect this. And see it as a good place to begin our class discussions in September.

·          Be ready to speak about the book when you come to class. Study it, mark or highlight what you think are important passages from the text and write down reactions, questions, reflections that you may have.

·          During the first week of class, there will be a written assignment and/or quiz about the book.

We have provided links to discussion questions and other helpful information about The Reluctant Fundamentalist here: “Study Guide for The Reluctant Fundamentalist.”

Happy reading,

The Foundations Sequence Faculty