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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Students Contemplate AI, Earn Credentials in Cloud Computing
On the Tuesday before Easter break, some 20 students gathered in the Dumb Ox Café at Thomas Aquinas College, California, to learn about modern generative AI — and to receive a recently earned credential in cloud computing.
Presenting the talk as well as the credentials was Dr. Michael Soltys, a scientist at defense contractor GBL Systems, joined by the company’s CEO, Jim Buscemi. For that last several months, GBL has allowed TAC students to participate in the company’s Digital Upskilling Training Program, which offers training in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud credentials, free of charge. The night’s event, complete with pizza and sodas, marked the culmination of the students’ efforts.
Over the course of his talk, Dr. Soltys — a professor at California State University, Channel Islands — discussed many aspects of AI, from the basics of the subject to its history. While modern artificial intelligence is a useful tool, he observed, its title is somewhat of a misnomer. “Truth is too complicated to be generated with a few rules and algorithms,” he remarked, pointing out that, ultimately, AI is nothing more than software. Yet even the scientists who created current Generative AI programs don’t fully understand how they function. “They work like the Oracle of Delphi,” said Dr. Soltys. “You ask them a question, you get an answer” — without ever knowing exactly how that answer came about.
When it came time to award the credentials, Dr. Soltys congratulated the students, who, for three months, including Christmas break, worked hard to complete studies in a field well outside the confines of the College’s classical curriculum. “We’re very grateful to GBL for extending this opportunity to our students,” says TAC College & Career Counselor Daniel Selmeczy. “It’s allowed them to see, in a very practical way, how the academic program and the analytical-thinking skills it builds can prepare them well for any professional endeavor, especially technology.”
Moreover, the experience may also lead to promising employment opportunities.
At the end of the talk, Dr. Soltys and Mr. Buscemi offered students an opportunity to apply for paid internships beginning this spring. Two students have already begun the onboarding process for the internship program, and three others have submitted applications. “They are a smart and enthusiastic group of participants, for sure,” said Mr. Soltys. “We appreciate all of their hard work.”