Hot Issue: Undocumented Students—See Issue of Diversity & Democracy With Perspectives on Immigration and
Higher Education In a series of articles, The Chronicle of Higher Education has brought attention to undocumented students in colleges and universities. In case you missed it, a recent issue of AAC&U’s Diversity & Democracyalso examines this issue and the ways that immigration is transforming American higher education, and how higher education can transform the lives of new and established Americans. With a focus on questions of access and success at the crossroads between local and global, this issue's authors describe challenges facing American democracy as our demography shifts. Read the entire issue online.
New Publication on Strengthening General Education Programs General Education & Liberal Learning: Principles of Effective Practiceexplores elements common to strong general education programs and ways to advance achievement of essential learning outcomes. The publication features ways that institutions can improve general education practices and provides numerous examples of successful campus models for general education reform and assessment. This new report is ideal for use by curriculum committees and groups working on reviewing, revising, or assessing general education programs. Read the publication excerpt online, and get your copy today.
Southern Utah University President and Provost Speak Out on Value of Liberal Education
Michael T. Benson and Bradley J. Cook make a compelling case for why “Students Need a Liberal Education” in the Deseret News. They note that “the best career preparation is one that positions the graduate with a set of transferable intellectual and practical skills, applicable in a variety of contexts.” They describe how Southern Utah University, a LEAP Campus Action Network member, “has crafted a contemporary design for liberal education” that will, among other things “strategically integrat[e] general education courses, experiential learning and student life with in-depth work in program-specific curriculum.” They end by calling for sensitivity to this vision in state educational and fiscal policy, noting that, “Unless we support high-impact educational practices such as those outlined by a broad, liberal education, our state’s potential for sustainable economic progress will be forever challenged.” Utah is one of several LEAP partner states. See LEAP Utah for more information.
The June/July issue of AAC&U News features pedagogical innovations to improve student success at the University of Central Florida; data about college students' economic concerns; an opinion piece about why our nation needs liberally educated graduates; and the latest news about AAC&U meetings, projects, and publications.
This publication explores elements common to strong general education programs and examines how strong programs support liberal learning outcomes essential to success in the twenty-first century. The publication surveys the changes that have occurred in general education programs—and more broadly in higher education—since AAC&U's Strong Foundations: Twelve Principles for Effective General Education Programs was published in 1994. The publication discusses how institutions may improve their general education practices and provides numerous examples of successful practices. This publication is ideal for use by curriculum committees and groups working on reviewing, revising, or assessing general education programs.
This issue highlights undergraduate programs that integrate students into the research community through mentored experiences in various disciplines. These programs strive to provide students with hands-on opportunities to participate in original research projects and to engage in creative activities and scholarship under the guidance of experienced faculty members. Articles focus on undergraduate research in the arts and humanities, as well as in STEM disciplines, and describe models for first-year and lower-division students.
