Is there a link between student success and visits to the Houston Museum of Natural Science or the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston? If education values critical thinking with a broad knowledge of the world, then the ideal place to start might be the humanities.
This spring, the Teaching Gallery in the Student Learning Resource Center at Lone Star College-University Park has been the site of Galaxy 21 Humanities Forums, academic enrichment seminars that inspire students, faculty and members of the community to become more familiar with Houston’s cultural attractions.
“The popular Galaxy 21 Live sessions result in a high level of interest in visiting Houston’s leading museums and performing arts centers,” said Stephen Mendonca, forum founder and English adjunct instructor at LSC-University Park.
According to Mendonca, recent Galaxy 21 Live sessions have offered a peek at the Paleo Hall and Egyptology exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science as well as the watercolors of John Singer Sargent at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Permanent exhibits or special events are featured at Galaxy 21 Live sessions held each month. Future sessions will showcase the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet and Alley Theater. Representatives from the museum and theater districts are very enthusiastic about exploring ways to expand such cultural exchange programs. And, LSC-University Park searches for innovative ways to support programs that prepare learners for the 21st century.
Galaxy 21 Live frames life, ideas and possibilities around the humanities with an emphasis on guided inquiry and interactive discussion. For more information, please contact Stephen Mendonca at Stephen.J.Mendonca@LoneStar.edu.
LSC-University Park is the sixth LSCS campus located in the former Compaq Computer’s world headquarters complex. The 71-acre campus houses four university partners, a charter high school, several business partners, Lone Star Corporate College and the LSC Energy and Manufacturing Institute. Under the first President, Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park’s vision is to be nationally recognized as the model for the innovative college of the 21st century. In just two years, LSC-University Park’s Invitation-2-Innovate (i2i) has resulted in many local, national and global recognitions, including one patent. The campus is located at the corner of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road across from Vintage Park. For more information about LSC-University Park, call 281.290.2600 or visit LoneStar.edu/UP.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.