Academic Departments

At Cushing, students are at the core of our entire program—from academics to extracurricular activities to athletics, students come first. Our Mission Statement and our Guiding Principles reinforce our basic expectations for our students, faculty, and staff. And with our newly implemented Cushing Center for 21st Century Leadership, our students will graduate well-versed in and prepared to confront the ethical and moral challenges of the 21st century.

Students are challenged on a daily basis in their classes; guided by overarching questions at each grade level, they are asked to make connections within and between disciplines as they prepare for participation in a global community. Students selected to participate in our Honors Program are provided opportunities beyond a traditional classroom experience to meet with experts in the fields of bioethics, economics, literature, and history in small settings. All students have the opportunity to participate in our Wednesday internship program; one such internship allowed a student to clerk for a federal judge in Boston. Technology is integrated into classroom practice and homework preparation. Each student is required to have a laptop, and every classroom is equipped with SmartBoard technology. Our state-of-the-art Joseph R. Curry Academic Center, home to the Mathematics, Performing Arts, and Science Departments, is the centerpiece of academic best practice.

High academic expectations are balanced with individual support. Faculty advisors meet weekly with students to review feedback from classroom teachers, and two academic deans oversee the overall progress of Cushing's students. An Extra Help period is included in the academic day, where students can meet with teachers to review the day's material or prepare for upcoming projects or assessments.

Our faculty boast a wide range of experience both in and out of the classroom. Seventy-five per cent hold advanced degrees; our recently instituted sabbatical program allows faculty to pursue academics interests that will benefit the entire Cushing community upon completion of their work.

At Cushing, motivated and dynamic students engage with an experienced and dedicated faculty to make our student-centered mission thrive on a daily basis. Our challenging curriculum demands that students think critically about their place in the 21st century as we consciously commit ourselves to preparing the leaders of tomorrow.

Susie K. Carlisle, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Dean of Faculty and Academics