Liberal Education and America's Promise

How to Get Involved

The best way AAC&U Member Campuses can get involved in LEAP is through the Campus Action Network.  Network members are committed to advancing liberal education for all students, both on campuses and in the community. They work together to improve how they communicate about and ensure that all students achieve key liberal education outcomes (LEAP Campus Action Partner Form, pdf).  

AAC&U provides resources and assistance to individuals and institutions who want to help advance and advocate for liberal education.  See below for ways to contribute to national, local, or campus efforts. 

On Campus

Conduct  focus groups with students to ascertain what they view as the most important outcomes of college and how well their current educational program is helping them achieve these outcomes (see the LEAP Focus Group Discussion Guide, pdf).  Organize events with recent graduates presenting to current and/or prospective students on the most important outcomes of college and preparing for the new global economy.

Clearly state liberal education learning goals on course syllabi and share good examples with the campus community (see an exemplary program from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh).  Communicate in first-year seminars and/or orientation sessions the importance and economic value of a liberal education (see the AAC&U publication, Why Do I Have to Take This Course?). 

Coordinate assessment efforts to collect data on how well students are achieving key liberal education outcomes. Share the results of such data with students and external stakeholders (see the AAC&U publications Liberal Education Outcomes and Our Students’ Best Work). 

Attend a workshop for LEAP Campus Action Network participants.  AAC&U holds workshops for participants within its regularly planned working conferences, including the Network for Academic Renewal conferences and the annual meeting (see the schedule of meetings). 

 In the Community

Sponsor campus-community dialogues in collaboration with other colleges in the region to discuss what really matters in college and how students should be prepared to reap the full benefits of a quality undergraduate education (see sample campus-community dialogue programs).

Organize events on college readiness with college faculty and local high school teachers.

Integrate the LEAP campaign with current work on campus by tying existing reform efforts (e.g. general education review) to your involvement with LEAP. Capitalize on this opportunity to place your efforts in the context of the national dialogue about "what really matters in college" that is being promoted by the LEAP campaign. Organize student hearings on these outcomes, and invite state officials, community and business leaders, and school teachers and educational leaders to participate.

Write an op-ed or give a speech. See LEAP Speeches and Articles to see how others are making the case for liberal education.

Please Share Your Successful Practices, Strategies, and Programs

AAC&U is actively seeking examples from LEAP campuses of educational innovations that help students both understand the aims of a contemporary liberal education and demonstrably achieve those aims. We are especially interested in practices that help students from underserved communities achieve a liberal education. We also seek successful strategies our members have used in raising public understanding and visibility for liberal education. To share an example, please contact Alma Clayton-Pedersen, vice president for Education and Institutional Renewal.

LEAP Staff Contacts at AAC&U

Coordinating Director: Bethany Zecher Sutton
Advocacy and Public Outreach: Debra Humphreys
Campus Action Network: Alma Clayton-Pedersen
Administrative Assistant: Christina Bell