The Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative, spearheaded by the Teagle Foundation, aims to revitalize the humanities in general education by fostering transformative, text-based learning experiences for a diverse array of students. This initiative is rooted in the belief that humanities play a pivotal role in civic life and personal development, yet they have seen declining engagement in higher education. By redesigning general education curricula, the program seeks to connect students with foundational texts that explore enduring human questions, thereby fostering critical thinking, communication skills, and a sense of community among learners.

The program is inspired by Purdue University’s successful Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts model, which has reinvigorated humanities participation among STEM and pre-professional majors. Participating institutions are expected to develop "Transformative Texts" gateway courses for incoming students, centered on primary works that build intellectual community and communication skills. These courses should be part of a broader effort to create thematic pathways through general education that align with students’ professional aspirations and provide social and ethical context for their fields. Additionally, the program prioritizes reaching a significant portion of the undergraduate body and aligning with institutional strategic goals to ensure sustainability.

Eligibility extends to regionally accredited not-for-profit and public institutions of higher education in the U.S., including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, regional comprehensives, and research universities. Two grant types are offered: planning grants (up to $25,000 for 6-12 months) for foundational work such as developing text lists and faculty training strategies, and implementation grants (up to $300,000 for 24 months) for enacting comprehensive curricular reform. Both grants emphasize faculty leadership, common intellectual experiences, and sustainable pathways that integrate the humanities into general education.

Successful proposals will demonstrate broad faculty engagement, clear plans for curricular coherence, assessment strategies for student outcomes, and alignment with institutional priorities. Proposals should also articulate how the program will engage professional school leadership to integrate humanities content into technical degree plans. Faculty and staff professional development, library resources, and student recruitment are examples of eligible uses for grant funds.

The application process begins with a concept paper of 3-5 pages, due by December 1, 2024, outlining project goals, alignment with the initiative, and the type of grant sought. After review, select applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by April 2025, with grant-supported work beginning as early as summer 2025.

For questions, applicants may contact Loni Bordoloi Pazich, program director for institutional initiatives at the Teagle Foundation, at bordoloi@teagle.org. Additional resources, including a toolkit and FAQs, are available to guide prospective applicants.