The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas renamed its Jefferson Scholars certificate program to the Stedman Scholars in Great Books Program, University officials announced in an Oct. 26 news release.
The name change follows a $5 million donation from Stuart Stedman, a member of the UT System Board of Regents and a member of the center’s advisory board. Housed within the College of Liberal Arts, the Jefferson Center supports programs and events promoting the study of classic texts and is open to students in all majors. Its main offering is the renamed program, where students complete courses to obtain the Certificate in Core Texts and Ideas.
According to the release, the donation will fund additions to the scholars program and enable the Jefferson Center to bring in more faculty and expand its visibility on campus. $1 million from the donation will be set aside to match gifts of $100,000 or more to the center, according to the release.
Stedman said he hopes the program will gain attention comparable to other academic programs at the University, such as Plan II Honors, after the donation.
“If the word gets out to prospective students, I really think, in some cases, it will swing the admitted students’ decision where to go to college based on this program,” Stedman said.
Stedman said the time is right to give the center the resources needed to expand into a more prominent campus institution after observing recent trends in higher education. He cited an increased emphasis on a “common body of knowledge and experience” for all students.
Dana Stauffer, co-director of the Jefferson Center, said Stedman’s donation is the largest financial contribution received by the center to date. She said she hopes the funds will enable the center to retain instructors for its Stedman Scholars classes, which mostly consist of small, seminar-style lectures. Stauffer said the donation will also help with student outreach.
“There are students who are really devoted to the program, who are thriving in the program, who love the program, but it just doesn’t have very much name recognition outside of a core group of students,” Stauffer said. “We want to find ways to make it better known.”
Radio-television-film sophomore Kate Walsh joined the program before starting UT as a freshman. Walsh learned of the program through an email she received after being accepted to the University that promoted the Jefferson Center. She said she thinks the name change could make the program less intriguing at first glance to students who are not already involved.
“Thomas Jefferson, that (has) a natural inclination to what we study,” Walsh said. “I don’t know if I would have read so deeply into the email if it was the Stedman Scholars back when I was applying.”
Eian Hayden, a civil engineering sophomore in Stedman Scholars, said that he has enjoyed his time with the Stedman Scholars, but is concerned about the program becoming more partisan.
The Board, which oversees and passes policies for member institutions, is made up of members nominated only by Gov. Greg Abbott. Stedman donated $1 million to Abbott’s unsuccessful reelection campaign.
Stedman said he sees the Jefferson Center as having a politically neutral mission.
“The whole idea is to bring students different perspectives, to force them to read very difficult texts and then to talk about the issues raised by these great thinkers in a civil manner,” Stedman said.
