For years, Conversatio has served as a cornerstone of the first-year experience at Saint Anselm College, as students are introduced to the college’s Benedictine values and intellectual traditions. Now, as part of broader curriculum revisions, the program is undergoing changes that could reshape how first-year students engage with this foundational coursework. 

At this stage, much is still uncertain. Revisions are still being explored at this time, and the current pilot program is in a trial phase, as different approaches are tested to see what works best. Some key takeaways from this year’s experimental “Pathways and Perspectives” pilot program, held across 10 seminars, include additional enrichment hours, which allow students to meet for an extra hour each week (which fewer readings are assigned to compensate for). Additionally, more interactions with campus resources have been a priority, like visits to the Academic Resource Center (ARC), the Meelia Center, the Career Development Center, and Student Life, so that students get to see more faces, meet more people, and get truly comfortable with all the different places on campus. 

Some emphasis was also put on ensuring a stronger Benedictine foundation. The traditional Benedictine Week was moved to the beginning of the semester for those in the pilot program, featuring early exposure to the monastery and an assigned reading of the Hallmarks of a Benedictine Education (in place of the Rule of Saint Benedict). Students also heard from Father Francis and Father Augustine on the early history of the college (questions like, “Who is Joseph Hall named after?” and “Who is Bradley House named after?”). 

One of the biggest proposed changes is restructuring the first-year curriculum. Under these revisions, it’s looking like Conversatio will only be one semester instead of a yearlong course. The second semester will then allow freshmen to take first-year exclusive courses like theology, philosophy, or other humanities courses that align with the college’s core mission. This would provide students with more flexibility to take courses they are truly interested in, or to experiment with interests, while maintaining a structured first-year experience. 

Additionally, financial considerations are playing a role in these discussions. The college aims to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently while maintaining a high-quality first-year program. Faculty workloads and course availability are also factors in determining how these changes will be implemented. 

While initial hopes were for a Fall of 2025 rollout, delays in committee work have pushed the timeline back a bit. As of now, the earliest anticipated launch is Fall of 2026. Next year, more faculty will participate in the pilot program, further refining the curriculum before final decisions are made. As the curriculum revision committee continues to evaluate these proposed changes, students can expect ongoing discussions and gradual implementation of new ideas. While the final version of Conversatio’s future remains uncertain, the goal is clear: to create a more engaging, flexible, and enriching first-year experience that balances the college’s Benedictine tradition with the evolving needs of students. For now, students and faculty can expect continued experimentation and gradual adjustments, with the hope that Conversatio will continue to be a meaningful and adaptable program that reflects both the college’s history and its future.