Students and their parents wonder if college is worth the investment.
Employers want graduates with the skills they need. The public wonders
if higher education is preparing future generations for an era of
dynamic change.
In his latest book, William Sullivan offers a model of higher education
that answers all these questions in the affirmative, through the power
of integrated learning. Drawing on examples from the 25 members of the
New American Colleges & Universities (NAC&U) consortium, the book makes
the case for an approach that combines the strengths of the liberal
arts, professional studies, and civic responsibility in order to give
students the combination of skills and experience that will prepare them
for success in all aspects of life after graduation.
NAC&U campuses place emphasis upon enabling their students to know
themselves and their abilities, as well as providing them with
opportunities to develop a sophisticated understanding of the world. To
achieve these goals, the academic programs focus on developing students'
intellectual and practical skills, such as analytical ability, problem
solving, facility in written and spoken communication, and an
appreciation for human diversity and creativity. These have
traditionally been identified as the goals of a liberal arts education,
and are the same ones identified in a national employer survey as giving
job-seekers an edge.
These institutions also invest a great deal of effort to provide their
students with state-of-the-art preparation for professional life and
occupational success in diverse fields. These range from the technical -
science and technology fields, with disciplines such as engineering and
computer science - through business, and across the human service
fields, such as education, nursing, pre-medicine, and pre-law, to
architecture, and the performing and visual arts. In these courses of
study, students begin to shape their future careers.
The important third value of a NAC&U education is fostering civic
responsibility among students. In programs of study abroad and a range
of internship and service opportunities, these colleges support their
students in shaping for themselves unique and effective ways to
contribute to the larger life of their world.
Parents and prospective students may appreciate the chance to learn more
about these schools and what they have to offer, while those working in
higher education will appreciate the chance to learn more about a model
that their own institutions may be motivated to emulate. All readers
will take away a picture of a truly vital part of the higher education
landscape in this country.
