Soliciting Ideas for AY26-27: “What Makes a Community?"

In Fall 2026, SMCM will be launching the Essential Question project. The Essential Question is campus-wide initiative from the Retention Committee (Academic Affairs, Admission and Enrollment Management, Inclusion and Belonging, and Student Affairs) designed to cultivate a deeper sense of campus  identity and intellectual community, and to help establish a sense of student belonging that spans from orientation to graduation (see full description at the link above). 

This tradition invites the entire campus into a year-long, interdisciplinary conversation. Each spring, we’ll announce a broad theme for the following fall centered on a single inquiry, serving as a through line beginning in New Student discussions and weaving through our annual programming. To be clear, there’s no obligation for every campus event to link to the theme. Instead, the goal is to provide a shared context each year for multifaceted, timely discussion across departments and student groups.

For our inaugural 2026-2027 academic year, we are proud to explore the question, "What makes a community?"--a theme that aptly reflects our core campus values. The annual Essential Question also encourages a broad array of disciplines to explore the theme through their own unique lenses, in the form of course content, guest speakers, film screenings, etc. Moving forward, we look to develop a collaborative process where faculty, students, and staff help select the annual theme. 

Have ideas on how you might tie in to the “What Makes a Community” theme in AY26? Let us help promote your events! Campus members are encouraged to send ideas and proposed programming via this short Google Form.