Secretary Duncan on Importance of Liberal Education: LEAP Blogs on Duncan’s Recent Speech Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s speech announcingthe new Race to the Top assessment grants is the focus of AAC&U’s most recent LEAP blog post. During his September 2 remarks, Duncan discussed the new assessments being developed for implementation by the 2014-2015 school year. Blog Coordinating Editor Debra Humphreys notes that, without using the words, Duncan actually calls for greater emphasis on liberal education outcomes for all students. For instance, she cites Duncan noting that, “There is no disagreement that math, reading, and writing are vital core components of a good education in today's knowledge economy. But so is the study of science, history, foreign languages, civics, and the arts. In the information age, a well-rounded curriculum is not a luxury but a necessity.”Read more in AAC&U’s blog post.
General Education for a Global Century Project—Deadline for Applications: September 15 General Education for a Global Century, AAC&U’s newest project that is part of its ongoing Shared Futures initiative seeks to build the capacity of colleges and universities to prepare today's students to grapple with big global challenges and thrive in a globalized economy as socially responsible and engaged citizens and workers. The initiative is funded with a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. The Call for Participation is available online. The deadline for applications is September 15. For more information about the project, click here.
LEAP Presidents’ Trust Member Michael Roth Makes Strong Case for Liberal Education
Wesleyan University President and AAC&U LEAP Presidents’ Trust member Michael Rothmakes the case for liberal education and its importance both for work and citizenship in The Huffington Post. Roth notes, “The liberal education that our students begin on Labor Day doesn't promise a specific kind of job, but it does promise to expand one's possibilities for meaningful work after graduation. Learning to learn also means learning to work, to engage with others in getting things done, creating opportunities and solving problems.” He also notes that the value of liberal education “ has little to do with the specific choice of concentration by an undergraduate.” Liberal education, according to Roth, helps students “connect what one has learned with what one can do with the communities of which one is a part,” including work communities, but also civic communities. See more about LEAP and about its Presidents’ Trust.
The September issue of AAC&U News features community-based undergraduate research in the humanities at the University of Michigan; new data about Hispanics' views of higher education; and the latest news about AAC&U meetings, projects, and publications.
This publication explores elements common to strong general education programs and examines how strong programs support liberal learning outcomes essential to success in the twenty-first century. The publication surveys the changes that have occurred in general education programs—and more broadly in higher education—since AAC&U's Strong Foundations: Twelve Principles for Effective General Education Programs was published in 1994. The publication discusses how institutions may improve their general education practices and provides numerous examples of successful practices. This publication is ideal for use by curriculum committees and groups working on reviewing, revising, or assessing general education programs.
This issue highlights undergraduate programs that integrate students into the research community through mentored experiences in various disciplines. These programs strive to provide students with hands-on opportunities to participate in original research projects and to engage in creative activities and scholarship under the guidance of experienced faculty members. Articles focus on undergraduate research in the arts and humanities, as well as in STEM disciplines, and describe models for first-year and lower-division students.
