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Sixteen colleges and universities have
been recognized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities
(AAC&U) for their visionary campus-wide innovations in undergraduate
education. Conducted under the auspices of the Association's Greater
Expectations Initiative, a rigorous national search identified colleges,
universities, and community colleges that have put in place stimulating
educational experiences for students. Dubbed "Leadership Institutions"
for their role as models of best practice, the honored campuses
will become part of the Greater Expectations Consortium on Quality
Education.
"In their applications -- corroborated
by thorough campus visits -- the Leadership Institutions demonstrated
strong commitment to a liberal education relevant for our contemporary
world," said Andrea Leskes, vice president at AAC&U and director
of Greater Expectations. "Each offers innovative programs and a
systemic approach to improve learning by all students."
"We were impressed with the attention
to higher achievement at every one of the seventy-three applicant
campuses," remarked Carol Schneider, president of AAC&U and one
of the team of campus visitors. "Further, we were deeply inspired
by the evidence that liberal learning is being reconfigured and
strengthened at all manner of colleges and universities across the
nation."
The selected schools were characterized by
extensive innovations in their curriculum, pedagogy, and organizational
structure. At all of them the campus culture supports undergraduates
both within and outside the classroom. Many have linked the liberal
arts and preprofessional study. Others offer students the opportunity
to "learn by doing" through off-campus work in community projects
or internships. Most strongly emphasize critical thinking about
complex problems, effective communication, and the ability to contribute
to a diverse society as important outcomes of a powerfully lasting
undergraduate education.
Chosen as Leadership Institutions, and representing
the range of higher educational types nationwide, were
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Central Connecticut State University
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Colgate University
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Duke University
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The Evergreen State College
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Hampshire College
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Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
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King's College (PA)
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Prince George's Community College
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Richland College
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State University of New York at Stony Brook
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United States Air Force Academy
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University of Hawai'i- Kapi'olani Community
College
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University of Michigan
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
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University of Southern California
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute
"The Consortium will provide national leadership
-- its members will be role models -- as Greater Expectations becomes
a resource to help all colleges and universities raise every undergraduate's
performance," added Leskes. Joining the newly selected campuses
in the Consortium will be the six recipients of the Pew Leadership
Award for the Renewal of Undergraduate Education (Alverno College,
Babson College, Eastern New Mexico University, Mount St. Mary's
College, Portland State University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
In bestowing its award, The Pew Charitable Trusts recognized the
significant achievements of these campuses in transforming themselves
to better educate undergraduates.
Formation of the Consortium on Quality Education,
with its mandate to broadly share successful teaching practices
both within higher education and with high schools, will advance
AAC&U's commitment to ensuring the advantages of liberal learning
for all students.
Greater Expectations: The Commitment to Quality
as a Nation Goes to College is a far-reaching, multi-year initiative
to define outcomes of a 21st century undergraduate education and
to discover strategies for achieving them. The Pew Charitable Trusts
and Carnegie Corporation of New York have underwritten the work.
AAC&U is the leading national association
devoted to advancing and strengthening liberal learning for
all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended
career. Since its founding in 1915, AAC&U's membership
has grown to more than 1000 accredited public and private colleges
and universities of every type and size.
AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator,
forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members
who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission
is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at
both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions
keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as
they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
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