College Learning and Shared Futures

By Carol Geary Schneider, president of the Association of American Colleges & Universities in Liberal Education
Spring 2002 Vol. 88, No. 2.

Carol Geary Schneider notes an emerging consensus among academic and community leaders about the "vision of learning we need in the twenty-first century" and especially in light of the events of September 11th. Highlighting articles featured in the Spring issue of Liberal Education, she argues that this vision "establish[es] civic engagement, intercultural learning, and social responsibility, both at home and abroad, as requisite elements in campus life and liberal education."

President Schneider argues further, however, that much more work remains to be done not only at the college level, but also at the high school level if we are to "match educational practice to the goals we all recognize as both important and necessary." She argues that "preparation for global and civic engagement needs to begin in high school, through students' extensive study of both United States and world history, and the connections between them." She argues for raising the bar of what a minimum standard would be in high school for all students aspiring to a college degree, including seeing to it that the college preparatory curriculum include "experiential as well as academic learning," and competence in a second language. Further, she suggests a minimum set of curricular goals on these issues for all college students to pursue in order to prepare them for the challenges of the twenty-first century.

For the entire article, visit www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/le-sp02presidentsmessage.cfm.