Liberal Education and America's Promise

Press Coverage

The Wisconsin system used leap year and leap day to promote LEAP on their campuses. Donna Silver, assistant director in the office of professional and instructional development in the Wisconsin system, wrote "LEAP program vital to education in the state" in The Capital Times (February 28, 2008). Scott Furlong, dean of liberal arts and sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, wrote "LEAP promotes liberal arts education" in the Green Bay Press Gazette (February 29, 2008). John Koker, dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at Oshkosh, wrote "Promoting a 'liberal' education, as in 'liberating' the mind…." in The Northwestern (March 4, 2008). And George Savage, chair of the department of languages and literatures at UW-Whitewater, wrote “Time to value well-rounded universities” in the Wisconsin State Journal (February 28, 2008), stating that a liberal education is “is practical, politically essential and philosophically relevant.”

The president of Beloit College focused on the LEAP Initiative in his recent president's message in the college's magazine. President Burris cites the 2008 LEAP Employer Survey, pointing out that the "hallmarks of a Beloit College education" align with employers opinions on outcomes, particularly in the areas of community-based projects, supervised internships, and advanced senior projects.

The American Psychological Association's (APA) publication, The Monitor, featured an article about LEAP, quoting Carol Geary Schneider's keynote address to the APA's 2007 Education Leadership Conference. The article noted that "psychology professors can help [students achieve a liberal education] by adopting more intentional, engaging and empowering forms of student learning—which may lead students to a more successful future." It also mentioned that the APA has included the LEAP report's Essential Learning Outcomes in its 2006 APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major.

USAToday invited AAC&U and Debra Humphreys to write the opposing op-ed piece about choosing a major in high school (September 4, 2007). "Instead of forcing students into narrow vocational tracks," Humphreys wrote, "we should, instead, be providing all students a challenging liberal education so that they can continue to learn throughout their lives."

A feature article in Hispanic Outlook, "Broader Skill Sets Needed in Global Economy" (pdf, August 27, 2007) reports on finding and recommendations from AAC&U's report, College Learning for the New Global Century.

An opinion piece in the Denver Post (August 11, 2007) by Larry K. Meredith of Western State College cites College Learning for the New Global Century when asserting that "students need to hear from their future employers that narrow learning will limit, rather than expand, their opportunities."

The release of the LEAP Report, College Learning for the New Global Century, on January 10, 2007 put liberal education and the LEAP Campaign in the news. USAToday reported that "Panel urges collegians to focus on liberal arts," while the San Antonio Express-News pointed out that "Employers say graduates don't pass muster." Education Week printed "Report: Broader Skills Best for College Grads." The two major higher education dailies also covered the release, with Inside Higher Ed reporting on a "New Definition for Liberal Education," and the Chronicle writing, "Colleges Should Teach Broader Skills to Prepare Students for Work Force, Report Says."

Three undergraduate students from University of Wisconsin System campuses were named recipients of the first UW System Liberal Arts Scholarship Competition.  This competition is one of many activities of the UW System’s Currency of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Initiative.

A recording of a March 6, 2006 broadcast of The West Side, a program of Wisconsin Public Radio, discusses the merits of a liberal education in the UW-Eau Claire system. Don Christian, a guest on the broadcast and dean of Arts & Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, co-wrote an op-ed later that month with Rebecca Karoff, Academic Planner at UW System Office of Academic and Student Services, about the same topic.  

The Spring 2006 issue of the UW-Oshkosh Magazine writes about "A Liberating Education" (pdf), giving specific examples of LEAP on campus. The Fall 2006 issue begins with a letter from Chancellor Wells about the importance of "Enlightening our future professionals" (pdf).

Inside Higher Ed covers AAC&U's 2006 Annual Meeting, where the main issues of the LEAP campaign were discussed. 

Lt. Governor of Wisconsin issues press release about her participation in the LEAP National Leadership Council and her address to AAC&U’s 2006 Annual Meeting in January. Later in the year, she writes an op-ed in The Badger Herald, 'LEAP program bolsters education."

AAC&U's release of its first report in the LEAP campaign is covered in both The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. (November 2005)

AAC&U releases Liberal Education Outcomes: A Preliminary Report on Student Achievement in College (pdf) as its first report in the LEAP campaign. Read the press release. (November 2005)

Carol Geary Schneider, AAC&U president, and Debra Humphreys, AAC&U vice president for communications and public affairs, publish an op-ed in The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Putting Liberal Education on the Radar Screen" (September 23, 2005, registration required). 

"UW System Defines Liberal Education," an article in the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Voice about AAC&U's partnership with the University of Wisconsin system (April 2005)

Communication Skills Ranked by Students (The National Communication Association features the LEAP campaign's public opinion research on its Web site)

UW System Joins National Partnership to Promote Value of Liberal Education (University of Wisconsin press release announcing partnership with AAC&U and participation in LEAP campaign--March 16, 2005)

"An Urgent Agenda" Op-Ed on AAC&U's Campaign for Liberal Education in Inside Higher Ed (February 2005)

AAC&U's Campaign for Liberal Education and America's Promise covered in an article entitled "Redefining Liberal Education" in Inside Higher Ed. (January 28, 2005)

AAC&U Launches Campaign to Focus Public Attention on What Really Matters in College Today (AAC&U press release--January 27, 2005)

Association of American Colleges and Universities to Launch Campaign for Liberal Education at Meeting Celebrating 90th Anniversary (AAC&U press release--January 7, 2005)