Cites ten qualities of individuals embodying the values of a liberal education: the ability to listen and hear; read and understand; talk with anyone; write clearly and persuasively; solve varied problems; respect rigor as a way of seeking truth; practice humility, tolerance, and self-criticism; understand how to get things done; nurture and…

Discusses curricular tradition in liberal higher education and proposes a schema of curricular principles emphasizing the character of the learner, the world to be known, a common heritage of humanity, and kinds of disciplines. Uses the University of Chicago's past and current curricula to illustrate the ongoing search for curricular coherence.…

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) implemented a series of academic reforms, including the adoption of minimum academic standards, mandatory basic skills testing, and the establishment of new general education course requirements. In order to assess the success of the reforms in shaping the curricular patterns…

Prepared by Midway College's (MC's) Women's Education Study Commission, this report discusses critical issues for women's education in the last two decades of the 20th century and the role of MC, Kentucky's only women's college, in the area of women's education. After introductory material outlines the membership and tasks of the Commission, part…

Student development philosophy, based solely on the behavioral sciences and a romantic humanistic philosophy, is not adequate for meeting human needs in contemporary society. The concepts of holism, humanism, pragmatism, and individualism are all part of this student development philosophy but have been distorted. The literature on student…

A discussion is presented on eliminating the current fragmentation of the undergraduate liberal education curriculum and developing a curriculum by building curricular areas not around disciplines but around questions, problems, and enduring ideas for constructive social change. A description is given of three exemplary projects developed to…

An Association of American Colleges report on the reform of general education offers advice to faculty and administrators for creating a campus environment in which students believe general education is more than a few required courses. (MSE)

Recommends pluralistic general education programming to accommodate diversity in faculty orientations, values, and perceptions of knowledge; and disparity in students' academic ability, values, and preferred learning styles. Suggests a multi-track general education model emphasizing different, but equally demanding, educational experiences for…

The curriculum development process leading to Bradford College's new Practical Liberal Arts Education plan, an interdisciplinary core curriculum focusing on the theme of the common bonds of human beings, is discussed. (MSE)

The traditional undergraduate separation of general education, the major, and the electives does not reflect what happens in the student's learning, and lacks direction and clarity of purpose. Collaboration among generalists and specialists within and between the departments is needed to prepare students better.

The NIE Study Group on the Conditions of Excellence in Higher Education calls on colleges and universities to revitalize liberal education and set higher standards for graduation. This news report notes the realities of student learning, curricular coherence, the quality of facilities, faculty morale, and academic standards that no longer measure…

The history of undergraduate teaching in the United States is discussed in an attempt to determine whether the curriculum is now in a period of crisis. The most crucial ingredient in the excellence of higher education may be the admissions policies and the quality of the faculty teaching available courses. (MLW)

Students (N=22,923) who took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test were classified by the four general undergraduate fields of study and by gender. Analyses were performed of the impact of gender and field of study on GRE scores after controlling for SAT scores. (TJH)

Describes present anthropological curricula both within the department and in other campus settings. Examines the role of anthropology in a proposal for revising General Curricular Requirements at Cleveland State University. Future prospects for the program are discussed. (JS)

Describes a study conducted at a multicampus community college district in northern California to determine whether general education (GE) was structured and implemented for the primary purpose of generating large amounts of revenue and whether a disproportionately higher rate of return is generated from GE compared with non-GE curricula. (27…