The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is one of several small, faithful Catholic col- leges founded over the last generation. Each was launched to provide alternative options to existing Catholic colleges, both in terms of religious identity and academic rigor.

Despite similarities, each is distinctive. Indeed, Thomas More College co-founder Dr. Peter Sampo launched his college in 1978 be- cause he was looking for something that he had not found elsewhere. In addition to his association with other colleges, he was presi- dent of Magdalen College from 1974 to 1978.

What was created was a college dedicated to studying the whole texts of great thinkers as a vehicle for helping transform students. Dr. Sampo referred back to the ancient Greek idea of apaid e i a, a holistic approach to edu- cation that molds young men and women to become active and informed citizens.

The college pursues itspaid e i a through a unique set of courses, an emphasis on class- room interaction and balance between the academic and non-academic. It also promotes its Catholic identity with guidance fromEx

According to its catalogue, \u201cCatholicism is manifested in the College not merely as one among many religions with unique ob- servances and beliefs, but as an approach to reality that is implicit in all aspects of the institution\u2019s life.\u201d

Founded:1978
Type of institution: Micro liberal arts college
Setting:Rur a l
Undergraduate enrollment: 92 (2006\u201307

college in 2006, said, \u201cThe Faith permeates everything [here].\u201d He noted the emphasis placed on Christian humanism in the curricu- lum, particularly as advanced by Saint Thom- as More and John Henry Cardinal Newman.

This is done through the integrated cur- riculum known as the Cowan Program of Liberal Arts, which was devised by Donald and Louise Cowan, both of whom had long associations with the University of Dallas.

The most unusual part of the core cur- riculum is the humanities cycle, in which all students take the same course at the same time. Literally, freshmen through seniors are reading, writing and thinking about the same classical works.

The eight-unit cycle spans the period from the ancient world to the 20th century. In the fall of 2007, the unit will be on the Renais- sance and Reformation and then move to early modern philosophers and writers in the spring.

By the end of their senior year, each stu- dent will have taken 48 credits in humani- ties, spread out over the eight semesters; that accounts for 40 percent of the total credits needed to graduate. And all will have been done so in tandem with every student in the college.

linear approach to studying Western civiliza- tion forces students to think in more creative terms while eschewing typical cause-and-

Other requirements in the core include 12 credits for writing, 12 in classical languages (Latin or Greek), 12 in science and mathemat-

\u201cChristology and Ecclesiology\u201d and \u201cSacra- ments.\u201d All sophomores spend their spring semester in Rome.

of work in their discipline during the junior and senior years. All students complete a ju- nior project and a senior thesis.

inquisitive, yet eclectic group of students. Students hail from all sections of the coun- try, including from the west coast, and have a number of non-traditional, older students.

The 2006\u201307 enrollment was 92, all under- graduates. Although that number is consis- tent with recent years, President Nelson has new plans for growth to about 250-300 stu- dents, \u201cwhich would allow it the same spiri- tual and intellectual formation but round it out more.\u201d He also believes that there should be more emphasis placed on history.

According to the college, more than 60 percent of alumni pursue graduate study. A recent survey indicated that they have gone

The college is fully accredited by both the regional agency, the New England Associa- tion of Schools and Colleges and the Ameri- can Academy for Liberal Education.

For the past 26 years, the college has been located in the town of Merrimack, which has about 27,000 residents. It is located in south- ern New Hampshire near the border with

The college is governed by a 14-member large- ly lay board, which includes retired Notre Dame law professor Charles Rice. The only religious member of the board is Edward Car- dinal Egan of the Archdiocese of New York.

Dr. Sampo served as the president of TMC from its founding until 2006 when he became chancellor and a political science professor there. One graduate referred to him as \u201cthe patriarch and grandfather on campus.\u201d His successor, Mr. Nelson, had previously been a

Another important part of the college ad- ministration has been Dr. Mary Mumbach, a co-founder of the college who serves as dean.

son. It also upholds the understanding of the Church as Mother\u2014generous, welcoming, unwavering in its adherence to the truth but

All faculty members are Catholic and most of its students are, but the college emphasizes that non-Catholics are welcome. Accordingly, the website notes that the institution \u201cis dedi- cated to providing a Catholic education to students of all faiths.\u201d

The public identity is manifested in its choice of campus speakers. The commence- ment speakers from 2004 to 2006 were for- mer U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn, Heritage Foundation president Edwin

At the 2007 commencement, honorary de- grees were awarded to Hansen; Dr. John Lu- kacs, a distinguished historian; and Rt. Rev.

\u201cWhat Thomas Aquinas Really Meant\u201d; and Father George Rutler, speaking on \u201cSt. John Vianney and the Enlightenment.\u201d

According to one of our alumni interview- ees, \u201cUsually our speakers were rather heady but very interesting. They were great choices. Most were not expecting to be grilled so in- tensely by a well-informed student body.\u201d

As another example of a growing interest in expanding its Catholic public presence, the college announced in March 2007 that it had become co-publisher of Second Spring: An In-

More College\u2019s mission, is a Christian Hu- manist publication. This tool for evangeliza- tion has included among its writers Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) when he was the Vatican\u2019s Prefect of the Congrega- tion for the Doctrine of the Faith.