The liberal arts college and humanist learning

What is liberal education? How do its aims differ from those of either grammar or vocational education? Does it truly deserve its own supporting institution? In response to these questions, Arcilla develops a defense of the liberal arts college. He observes that all projects of formal learning presuppose that the learner possesses answers to three fundamental, existential questions: What is one’s nature? What is the good for beings of this nature? What facilitates this good? We develop better responses to these questions by engaging in liberal learning. The mission of the liberal arts college, then, is first and foremost to support this learning. With this idea of liberal learning and its college in mind, we may nonetheless wonder whether the existential knowledge it seeks is really something that can be learned. Arcilla articulates a version of humanism that illuminates the conditions of possibility for liberal learning and affirms this learning’s intrinsic value. At the same time, this philosophical theory requires for its verification that we engage in liberal learning. Arcilla calls the symbiotic partnership formed by liberal learning and humanism “humanist learning,” and he points out that it is this learning, which is crucial to our other kinds of education, that would be lost if society ceased to support genuine colleges of the liberal arts.     

The disadvantaged student at a liberal arts college

In the fall of 1969, a program to expand educational opportunities (EEO) for economically disadvantaged students was initiated at Macalester College. During the first three years of the program, the percentage of non-white students at the College rose from 3% to approximately 15%.Average grades for the EEO students were approximately one standard deviation below those of a random non-EEO sample, similar to the differences in high school grades between the two groups. However, the EEO students persisted at Macalester College at a slightly higher rate than non-EEO students. The EEO students also were more likely than non-EEO students to major in the behavioral/social sciences and less likely to major in the fine arts, humanities, and physical sciences.     

The liberal arts college and adult continuing education: A rationale

Discussion concentrates on feasibility of private liberal arts college involvement with adult and continuing education. Evidence of need is provided by national and local surveys. Basic model is that developed by Saint Mary's College, Winona, Minnesota, which sponsors an Employee Learning Program with support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Experiences of the exploratory period indicate positive support from college administration and faculty, increasing response to course offerings (life-coping skills and personal enrichment), cautious involvement by business and industry, and meager interest from organized labor. The program continues to define the model in its second year of operation.     

Language arts in the elementary school: A challenge to teachers

According to Dr. Cooper, the students of some teachers are still spending most of their time filling in blanks, labeling parts of speech, and even diagramming sentences. The result is that most students dislike language and develop a meager facility in oral and written communication.     

Alumni giving at a small liberal arts college: evidence from consistent and occasional donors

This study observed the financial giving of alumni at a small, private liberal arts college covering a 23 year period of consistent (longitudinal) and occasional donors. After observing historical characteristics of donors, college officials have a greater probability of accurately predicting future alumni gifts. Key determinants of alumni giving for both consistent and occasional donors are as follows: volunteering for the college, major in a social science division, language school attendance, residence in states with alumni chapters, and employment within the financial sector. Additionally, alumni with relatives who have attended the college, and alumni who have played a varsity sport during college, are two groups very likely to donate. Our study suggests that Alumni Offices may benefit from rating donors' giving potential (and subsequently focusing on these individuals), extensively publicizing reunions, and by targeting those who volunteered during their college years. Among occasional donors, Alumni Offices may want to target males, fraternity/sorority members, and alumni who are close to retirement.     

论高校文科实验教学管理

高等学校文科的实验教学还处于探索阶段,文科实验教学管理方面的诸多问题亟待研究解决。该文从2个方面探讨了文科实验教学管理中的主要问题,并提出了解决这些问题的方法,即:培养一支稳定的文科实验教师队伍,加强文科实验室的管理。     

Academic departments as networks of informal learning: faculty development at liberal arts colleges

In this article, we consider the role of departmental contexts and relationships in faculty work within liberal arts colleges. Knowledge about how departmental networks relate to success and satisfaction may inform the work of those who support faculty work in liberal arts colleges, as well as other institution types. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative survey data from faculty members at 13 liberal arts colleges in the US suggests that informal departmental relationships influence faculty experiences. Findings suggest that departmental leaders and colleagues are sources of professional development and support, but that counter-productive behaviours interfere with such support and foster negative workplace cultures.     

Attrition in the liberal arts college of a major metropolitan university

A variety of data was collected about students in the liberal arts college of a major metropolitan university. Random samples of 120 students were selected from each of two groups: stayers and leavers. The data include only those variables that would be known to administrators at the time an admissions decision is to be made. These data were then subjected to a stepwise linear discriminant analysis. Significant results are found for discriminating between the two groups, and nine variables are found to contribute to the discrimination.     

对高校文科实验教学管理的若干思考

长期以来,高校由于对文科实验室建设与管理重视不够、投入不足,导致了实验教学目标不能正常实现.探索高校文科实验教学对提高文科学生综合素质的作用,分析了文科实验教学中存在的主要问题,并提出了相应对策.     

Statistical models for college admission and enrollment: A case study for a selective liberal arts college

In making admission decisions, selective colleges make choices that allow them to improve the quality of the college. Desired student attributes include leadership, noteworthy achievements and talents, and cultural and geographical diversity, as well as high academic performance. Since few applicants dominate in all these attributes, a delicate balancing act must be forged.In this study we construct probability models for college admissions and student enrollment. We have chosen a selective liberal arts college as a case study over a four-year period. In the first stage we estimate the probability of acceptance to the college for individual applicants. The logit model includes a number of academic factors as well as nonacademic components. In the second stage we estimate the probability of enrollment for an accepted student.The first stage results show that the actual outcome of the admissions decision does match the broader institutional goals of the college. However, in the second stage, the discrepancy between the acceptance and enrollment decisions frustrates the efforts of the institution to achieve its diversity goals and highlights the difficulty that admission officers have in targeting their efforts toward special groups of applicants.     

How the instructional and learning environments of liberal arts colleges enhance cognitive development

This study analyzes longitudinal data from 17 four-year institutions in the United States to determine how the distinctive instructional and learning environment of American liberal arts colleges accounts for the positive impact of liberal arts college attendance on four-year growth in critical thinking skills and need for cognition. We find that, net of important confounding influences, attending an American liberal arts college (vs. a research university or a regional institution in the United States) increases one’s overall exposure to clear and organized classroom instruction and enhances one’s use of deep approaches to learning. In turn, clear and organized classroom instruction and deep approaches to learning tend to facilitate growth in both critical thinking and need for cognition—thus indirectly transmitting the impact of attending a liberal arts college.     

工科院校文科生就业挑战及对策探析

在严峻的就业压力和工科院校文科生群体不断扩大的背景下,工科院校文科生就业难的问题也日渐凸现。本文从文科生就业现状出发,从社会经济形势、文科学科特点、工科院校背景及文科学生等方面分析了工科院校文科生就业的面临的挑战和机遇,扬长避短地提出了改革人才培养模式、挖掘工科院校资源、提高实用写作能力、加强个性化培养等对策来推动工科院校文科生的就业。     

从文科与理工科实验教学差异的视角谈文科实验教学

随着时代的发展,社会对文科人才的实践能力要求越来越高。实验教学已经不再是理工科的专属,文科同样需要实验教学来适应社会对高素质人才的需求。通过比较指出文科与理工科实验教学的差异,并针对文科实验教学的特点提出改善当前文科实验教学及文科实验室建设的若干措施。     

文科物理实验教学实践探索

东南大学是国内少数较早对文科各专业开设大学物理实验课程的学校之一,经过多年的教学实践改革,东南大学的文科物理实验教学体系已初步形成。该文从教学内容、教学模式及实验考核等方面进行了介绍和总结。