This has been a very good year for the University. Our new
library has been dedicated, several departments in the Humanities have moved
into their beautiful new offices, the Science faculties have planned a $50
million project, we are “full pond” with talented students, and we are listed as
one of the top 30 universities or top 38 liberal arts colleges in one publication or another. Yet,
there is a sense of malaise among the faculty, one, curiously, not shared by
the students. Could it be that we are doing something right?
I am a staunch defender of the
curriculum and calendar that has accomplished so much for our students in the
past thirty six years. We graduated young people who thereafter succeeded in
their various endeavors. Could the curriculum, with its strong emphasis on
General Education Requirements, have played a key role in this?
I see particular value in our year-long, daily foreign language
classes. Imagine another scenario by which an entering first year student can
acquire sufficient fluency in another language to engage in a rudimentary
conversation with a native speaker. Yet, many of our entering students do not
value this ability. An informal survey conducted with students enrolled in
chemistry, history and political science indicated that many students would
like to drop the language requirement. What a hasty, foolish, and dangerous
attitude in today’s world. Europeans consider our knowledge of the outside world appalling
and our facility with foreign languages laughable.
Will we be able to sustain our impressive list of Study Abroad programs given
another calendar and curriculum? Will faculty enlist for 15 week tours of duty
abroad away from home and family? Can we create four or five courses for the
participants to take? Will we maintain our sturdy 40% rate of overseas
experience among our graduating seniors? Or, we will “outsource”
these programs to other institutions? Will these other programs maintain our academic standards? Will
we regret losing a shared experience among our faculty and students?
We live in a world where we need to be cognizant of contemporary
events and the histories and cultures of those who share our common destiny. I
submit that our General Education Requirements develop the skills to acquire
and to communicate information and provide the solid foundation necessary to
develop a deeper knowledge of specific disciplines.
Posted by love at
November 1, 2004 11:04 AM
Discuss
this proposal in the forum, or leave a comment below!