The Good Life: A Knowledge for Freedom Program
The Good Life Program engages rural and first-generation students in an enriching exploration of the role the humanities and civic engagement play in our quality of life.
Exploring the Good Life
The Good Life: A Knowledge for Freedom Program is a humanities-based initiative from the College of Liberal Arts Humanities Hub, in partnership with the Office of Pre-College Programs and UM Flagship First-Gen. This program invites rising junior and senior high school students from North Mississippi to explore a profound question: What does it mean to live a good life?
Participants engage deeply with the humanities—exploring art, music, literature, ethics, philosophy, history, and civic engagement—to discover how these disciplines shape a meaningful and fulfilling life. Guided by university faculty, students develop critical thinking, writing, and leadership skills while forming connections that promote both academic and personal growth.
The program also offers students a firsthand look at campus life and provides access to essential resources, including guidance on college applications and scholarships.
Supported by the Teagle Foundation, this initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to creating impactful educational opportunities for rural and first-generation high school students.
“We hope to cultivate a generation of students who value higher education, engage in meaningful conversations, and work across differences to advance their communities.” - Ashleen Williams, faculty coordinator and instructional assistant professor in the Office of the Provost
The Good Life Experience
Immersive Summer Experience
The cornerstone of The Good Life program is its immersive summer experiences. Rising juniors begin their journey with a one-week program featuring engaging humanities seminars, mentor-led activities, and recreational evenings. Rising seniors participate in a three-week session that includes advanced coursework, civic engagement projects, and college preparation.
Year-Round Programming
Following the summer programming, both the rising junior and rising senior cohorts will participate in year-round activities, ensuring ongoing mentorship and growth. This includes regular check-ins with their Good Life cohort and leaders, on-campus events and gatherings in their communities.
Community Engagement
Students engage with community members and explore the rich history of Oxford and the university by visiting the Square, the University Museum, Rowan Oak, and more. These excursions highlight the importance of community involvement and encourage participants to reflect on how they can make positive contributions to their own communities.
College Preparation
While at the University of Mississippi, students in the rising senior cohort will participate in a series of “How to College” seminars and workshops. These will include sessions on academic study habits, application and scholarship information, and other topics.
A look at the Good Life
In 2024, the Good Life Program welcomed students for our pilot program. Through engaging discussions, interactive workshops, and visits to Oxford’s landmarks, participants explored the question of what it means to live a good life while building lasting connections with peers and mentors.
The Good Life news
OXFORD, Miss. – The question of what makes a good life – a quandary that has intrigued philosophers, writers and academics for centuries – was the central theme for eight high school students in a University of Mississippi pilot program this summer.