Traditions

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Academics

  • A group of liberal arts students, welcoming in a new class of students.

    Signing the Register

    Every school year begins with Convocation service, set in the midst of a Vesper prayer service. After the school opens by singing Psalm 1 and processing in together, the incoming students recite the student pledge & sign the college register while the assembly sings St Patrick’s Breastplate.

  • A choir and orchestra of liberal arts students performing.

    NCF Concerts

    The New College Franklin Ensembles — Chorale, Cantus, and Orchestra — present two concerts each year at Christmas and in the Spring, inviting the community to join them in enjoyment of beautiful pieces of music from across the centuries.

  • A man with a beard giving a talk at a small classical school.

    Collegia

    About once a month, NCF hosts a lecture and Q&A from a visiting speaker or faculty member, followed by a Q&A panel and a reception. Speakers have included Michael Card, Alastair Roberts, Carolyn Weber, Roy Atwood, Joseph Pearce, and Andrew Kern.
    Find upcoming collegium lectures here.

  • A rithmomachia board, a classical game used during a course in the Quadrivium.

    Rithmomachia

    The freshman Quadrivium course includes a Rithmomachia tournament — a variation on a board game from the Middle Ages which teaches Boethian mathematical philosophy and reminds players of the mathematical harmony of creation.

  • Close up of the platonic solids, made during a course in the Quadrivium, which is part of a liberal arts education.

    Platonic Solids

    A semester in Euclidian Geometry culminates in a project where each student makes their own versions of the five Platonic solids, using anything from wire to wood to glow sticks.

  • The graduating class from a small classical college standing inside.

    Commencement

    The year concludes with our Commencement Service, as the seniors receive their diplomas and sign out of the register, the new student Guild is installed, and our founder gives a charge to the graduating class.

  • A classical student is standing at a podium with a red cloth featuring a gold emblem. She appears to be speaking or reading into a microphone inside a building, possibly a church or hall, with framed pictures and artwork on display nearby.

    Capstone Presentations

    At the end of April, graduating seniors spend an evening presenting on their finished Capstone projects, a community event attended by the college and friends and family. Read more about Capstone here.

  • A group of students from a classical school in daily prayer service.

    Testimonies

    During Rhetoric in second year, each student writes and gives their testimony to the other members of the class, an opportunity to share with their classmates how the Lord has worked and is working in their lives.

  • Clay sculptures done by liberal arts students at a small Christian college.

    Sculpture

    In sophomore art, each student sculpts a busts out of clay from a live model, often upperclassmen or faculty.

Outside the Classroom

  • Liberal arts sitting on wooden pews in a church, with a stained glass window in the background.

    Daily Prayer

    Each morning in between classes, the entire college community, including professors, gathers together in the historic chapel to pray, sing and chant Psalms, and read Scripture.

  • Liberal arts students laughing and enjoying a festive gathering around a decorated table with candles and drinks in a dimly lit room.

    Yuletide Feast

    After fall finals, the faculty & students gather for a festive formal dinner to celebrate the close of the semester, complete with a Christmas feast, toasts from faculty & students, and carols.

  • Students from a small Christian college in a kitchen smiling and engaging in conversation.

    College Tea

    Each Thursday after prayer, there is a short break between classes for students & faculty to enjoy tea and coffee, fellowship, and leftover pastries donated by Panera.

  • Four students from a liberal arts college playing cornhole outdoors on a grassy lawn near trees, with one sitting on the grass and the other three standing or leaning, during a sunny day.

    Viking Chess

    While it has nothing to do with Vikings or chess, playing Viking Chess has been an NCF tradition since the beginning. It is now played throughout the year in tournament as houses compete for the Viking Chess Cup.

  • Students from a classical school dancing at a celebration with string lights and wall decorations in the background.

    Winter Ball

    The Student Guild hosts a ball each year in the winter, where students dress in their finest, enjoy hors’ devours, and dance under candlelight. Dances that range from English country to swing to waltz are taught and enjoyed by all.

  • Group of students from a liberal arts school gathered outdoors in a park-like setting, sitting and standing, engaging in conversation and smiling. In the background are trees, a white house, and a green roof structure, with a warm evening light.

    The Farm

    During spring break, students are invited to a professor’s family farm is East Tennessee, enjoying hiking, caving, cooking meals together, and campfires.

  • Photo of a group of students from a Christian school seated in an auditorium, attending an event or conference, with some smiling at the camera.

    Opera, Ballet, Symphony, Shakespeare, and Broadway

    Nashville is home to an opera company, ballet company, Shakespeare troupe, and the world-class Nashville Symphony. Students often take advantage of student pricing to see a show and the school often organizes trips to see traveling Broadway productions in Nashville.

  • Table setting with gold utensils, a white plate with black rim, a maroon napkin, a glass of water, and a program card for New College Franklin Year-End Feast, a feast at a liberal arts college.

    End of Year Feast

    The night before graduation, the college gathers with the families’ of the seniors as we feast, hear farewell toasts from the graduates, thank the professors, and award the House Cup.

  • A runner from a liberal arts school crossing the finish line at the Franklin Classic race, with a crowd of spectators and buildings in the background on a cloudy day.

    Franklin Classic 5K

    Each Labor Day, NCF students & faculty run the Franklin Class in support of a local health ministry, competing at the same time for house points.

Fun Tidbits

  • White line drawing of a hippopotamus on a black background, the mascot for a small classical school.

    Auggie the Hippo

    Our college mascot, Auggie the Hippo is named for Augustine of Hippo and makes an appearance in college materials, a concrete hippo, and at Yuletide Feast.

  • Students from a small classical school singing in daily prayer service.

    Singing the Tallis

    Singing the Doxlogy to the Tallis Canon has become a college tradition, including during prayer service, before Convocation & Graduation, after Yuletide Feast, and throughout the year.

  • A small outdoor seating area with tables and umbrellas in front of a white wooden building labeled 'The Coffee House'. It is in Franklin Tennessee.

    Biscuit Love & Coffee House

    Biscuit Love is the coffee shop just next door to NCF and Coffee House is a couple of blocks away. Both are located in historic homes and function as unofficial study spaces for many NCF students throughout the week.