ACTA's Must-Reads
The core of the issue
Our friends at the National Association of Scholars have published an incisive piece on the University System of Georgia's pending curricular changes. As they point out, the current USG curriculum -- while not perfect -- "does present an accessible combination of math, science, English, the humanities, and fine arts." That's quite similar to the assessment in ACTA's recent report card on public higher education in Georgia, Shining the Light, where we gave the curriculum a passing grade but noted its deficiencies in a few key subjects. We also agree with the NAS that the proposals that have come forth to replace the current curriculum would be steps backward, not forward. While the goal of the review ("to ensure that we are providing students with the knowledge and abilities they will need to meet the challenges of our rapidly evolving, technologically interconnected global world") is sound, the best way to get there is to beef up the curriculum -- adding an economics requirement, for instance -- not water it down.
Trustees in and out of Georgia would be well advised to read up on this controversy, as curricular reviews are a frequent occurrence on campus, and it's critical that they be done right.
Posted by Charles Mitchell at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
On this April 16th
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni remembers with sadness the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech just one year ago. We offer our prayers for the families of those whose lives were lost -- and for all those affected.
Posted by Charles Mitchell at 01:49 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Undergraduate education: Taking a backseat
Short and to the point, Stan Katz, professor of public and international affairs and director of the Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, reminds us that the building blitz on college campuses may be coming at the expense of undergraduate education and student learning. Perhaps we should consider his caution.
Posted by Phyllis Palmiero at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack