Liberal Education and America's Promise

Recent News Releases and Announcements

State Farm Insurance Executive Vice President Deborah Traskell Named as New Cochair of Leadership Council Guiding AAC&U National Initiative
(December 14, 2009)

College, Community and University Presidents Form "Presidents' Trust" to Advance Liberal Education as Source of American Civic Vitality and Economic Innovation and Growth (November 20, 2009)

Utah Colleges and Universities Join Forces to Accelerate Improvements in Student Learning Outcomes and Meet Needs of Changing Global Economy (October 30, 2009)

Press Coverage

A January 3 story in The New York Times by Kate Zernike, “Career U: Making College ‘Relevant’,” features public opinion research from AAC&U’s LEAP initiative, noting that employers “don’t want students specializing too soon.” The article quotes AAC&U VP Debra Humphreys noting that, “no matter what you major in, you need good writing skills and good speaking skills.” The findings cited are from a new survey conducted in late 2009. Watch this site for the full report on findings from this study scheduled for release on January 20. See selected findings from the forthcoming study and earlier public opinion research sponsored by LEAP.

Norm Cohen, executive director of the Coalition for Peace and Justice, wrote an op-ed entitled, "A Liberal Education comes in handy at times" for the New Jersey newspaper Shore News Today. The author states, "Being that it is back to school time, I thought it would make sense to tell you how my liberal arts degrees in history helped me sell auto parts in our family business."

Chancellor Richard H. Wells, who serves on AAC&U's board of directors, is quoted in an article regarding the LEAP Compass initiative in the University of Wisconsin system. He states, ’Give Students a Compass’ builds upon the momentum created by ongoing UW Oshkosh initiatives, including Liberal Education Reform, the Equity Scorecard process, review of retention and academic support services, and analysis of the results of the University’s National Survey of Student Engagement and Campus Climate survey.”

Thomas C. Pleger, campus executive officer and dean at the University of Wisconsin - Baraboo/Sauk County, wrote a guest editorial about how "A liberal arts education will prepare you for the future" in The Baraboo News Republic. He writes, "The liberal arts curriculum is the foundation for virtually every major offered in the University of Wisconsin System, and is designed to develop critical thinking skills, problem solving, communication skills, empathy, an understanding and appreciation for the arts and the human condition, and the ability to understand information."

Randy Bass, assistant provost for teaching and learning initiatives at Georgetown University, and Bret Eynon, assistant dean for teaching and learning at LaGuardia Community College, were guest bloggers writing about "New Technologies for Essential Learning" in The Chronicle of Higher Education Wired Campus Blog. The authors wrote, "We must educate students to deal with uncertainty. But what does that mean in practice? It means that we must design learning experiences to meet our highest learning goals - goals like the Essential Learning Outcomes listed by AAC&U."

Dr. Daniel Sullivan, president of St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and board chair of AAC&U, was a guest on a program that aired on North Country Public Radio (December, 1, 2008). Dr. Sullivan reiterated the messages of the LEAP initiative, including that liberal education should be accessible to all students. He also addressed the need for "A Fresh Start for higher education" under Barack Obama's administration as the president-elect takes office in January, 2009.

Julie Strupp wrote a story about Lt. Gov Barbara Lawton's attendance at the conference, "Liberal Education: A Unifying Mission for the 21st Century University" in The Badger Herald (November 24, 2008). “Liberal education may be the key to keeping students competitive in the 21st century and revitalizing the U.S. economy,” said Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton at a University of Wisconsin System conference Friday.

Rebecca Autrey writes about the conference, "Liberal Education: A Unifying Mission for the 21st Century University" in The Daily Cardinal (November 24, 2008). Representatives from 14 of the UW System schools met in Madison Thursday and Friday for a conference about the importance and usefulness of a liberal education.

Rachel Vesco writes about the conference, "Liberal Education: A Unifying Mission for the 21st Century University" in The Badger Herald (November 21, 2008) . AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider was among the keynote speakers at this LEAP conference in Wisconsin. In 2005, The University of Wisconsin System was named AAC&U’s pilot partner in moving forward the Liberal Education and America’s Promise agenda.

In a recently published op-ed, William A. Sederburg, Utah commissioner of higher education, reflects on the themes of the recent What is an Educated Person? Conference that featured the LEAP initiative. He writes about the importance to the state of having well-educated students and greater respect for intellectual expertise in The Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News (November 9, 2008). Referencing research done as part of LEAP, he notes that, "According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities employers are asking colleges for students with skills in science and technology, teamwork in diverse groups, the ability to solve problems and communication as key variables for student success." See public opinion data for full report on employer surveys.

Kim Mooney, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at St. Lawrence University, writes about the school's "May College" in Inside Higher Ed (August 1, 2008). During this conference, "thinking about how to teach is not divorced from thinking about what to teach. During the most recent May College, over 60 participants contemplated what a liberal arts education should be in 2008, and used as their template [the LEAP report, College Learning for the New Global Century], the only report I know of that surveyed employers and alumni about the kind of learning needed for life, work, and citizenship.

Peter Halpin, executive director of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, wrote a guest column in the Canadian paper, The Chronicle Herald (May 24, 2008). In it, he discusses the importance of the liberal arts in business, countering a statement made by Canadian businessman Robert Orr saying it's time to get rid of the "namby-pamby stuff" at universities. Halpin cites the 2007 LEAP survey of employers and recent graduates in his argument, pointing out, "After all, anyone who is interested in selling an interesting idea is a storyteller, a visionary and a philosopher of the marketplace...But if he couldn't dream the big dreams (the ultimate in namby-pambyism), Mr. Orr probably wouldn’t have gone anywhere in the global business world he inhabits."

In asking how psychologists can “develop learning outcome measures for liberal education,” an article in the American Psychological Association's journal (May 2008) cites the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes as one model. The article also quotes Robert Sternberg, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University in Massachusetts and AAC&U board member. When speaking of the LEAP initiative, the author writes, “What Sternberg likes about the model is its comprehensiveness: Instead of focusing merely on test scores and grades, he says, the LEAP approach also includes such outcomes as creativity, ethical behavior and citizenship.”

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor and LEAP National Leadership Council member Barbara Lawton gave the commencement address at University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County in May 2008, telling students that "creativity is one of the last legal ways to gain an unfair advantage over your opponents."

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 third 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)