The Teagle Foundation’s Cornerstone: Learning for Living Initiative

The Teagle Foundation’s “Cornerstone: Learning for Living” initiative seeks to revitalize the role of the humanities in general education across higher education institutions. This initiative offers funding opportunities to accredited institutions to support curricular reform and faculty development, with a focus on integrating transformative texts into general education. The next application deadline is 1 December 2026. The “Cornerstone: Learning for Living” initiative aims to reinvigorate the humanities within general education by exposing students to transformative texts. This initiative is inspired by a successful model at Purdue University and seeks to create a coherent and engaging general education curriculum that fosters a sense of community and belonging among students. The program encourages the integration of humanities with professional and technical fields to enhance critical thinking and communication skills. Eligible applicants include regionally accredited private not-for-profit and public institutions of higher education in the United States. This includes community colleges, liberal arts colleges, regional comprehensive institutions, and research universities. This initiative addresses the decline in humanities engagement by making general education more relevant and cohesive. It aims to reduce student attrition, particularly among low-income and first-generation students, by providing a meaningful educational experience that connects with their professional aspirations. The initiative also seeks to revitalize humanities departments and secure their future within higher education. Interested institutions should carefully review the official guidelines and prepare a comprehensive proposal that aligns with the initiative’s goals. Engage faculty in the planning process to ensure a robust and impactful application.