Many college leaders readily agree that the liberal arts have been under attack politically, socially, and culturally for well over a generation. They earnestly argue that a liberal arts education creates productive citizens to ensure a robust democracy. These officials point to the heightened polarization within American society and a growing political chasm fueled by […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Critics of the Liberal Arts aren’t thinking critically
The Cornell note taking method – revisited
So, you are in the process of researching and have discovered the age-old dilemma of ‘What do I need to remember from this text?’. This dilemma is often followed by deciding what to remember, which is then followed by a ‘But what if….?’. The result is a summary of the text as long as the […] … learn more→
University staff and students are at high risk of ill health. Here’s how to make sure they can cope
University students are an at-risk population for many health issues. These include mental health, alcohol and substance use, sexual assault and harassment, poor diet and lack of exercise. Perhaps just as important, but more frequently overlooked, is the well-being of university staff. They exhibit similar risk factors for ill health. Searching for wellness or well-being on most university websites will lead to a dedicated page detailing a wealth […] … learn more→
Looping – a free writing strategy for generating ideas
Free writing is probably the most common and talked up strategy for getting your writing going. Free writing is when you write continuously without stopping. It is often used in conjunction with a timer – the pomodoro. Free writing is used to generate ideas, to unstick a problem, to discover new perspectives. But free writing […] … learn more→
Maths: six ways to help your child love it
There is a widespread perception that mathematics is inaccessible, and ultimately boring. Just mentioning it can cause a negative reaction in people, as many mathematicians witness at any social event when the dreaded question arrives: “what is your job?” For many people, school maths lessons are the time when any interest in the subject turns […] … learn more→
Clearing: how students use social media to choose their university
The internet has undoubtedly changed the way we live and communicate. People are now able to share information not only with their friends and relatives, but also with complete strangers through the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Research shows that young people view communications on social media as more crediblecompared with traditional media and information […] … learn more→
Firing the canon
“Do you want to be the canon’s mouthpiece?” I asked a friend whose university had invited him on to a committee to identify 150 books that all undergraduates ought to read. But then I recalled that once, in my youth as a schoolteacher, I had established a literary canon of my own. One of my […] … learn more→
A-level results: should universities lower entry grades for disadvantaged students?
Students from less advantaged backgrounds are grossly underrepresented in Britain’s top universities. This underrepresentation of certain groups is particularly pronounced in highly competitive courses such as medicine. In England, for example, 80% of medical students come from just 20% of the country’s secondary schools. This leads to a profession dominated by certain demographic groups. This imbalance […] … learn more→
What Harvard can learn from Texas: A solution to the controversy over affirmative action
When it comes to the use of race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, no one seems to be happy with the way it’s playing out. Opponents charge that taking into account an applicant’s race or ethnicity amounts to “reverse discrimination.” Supporters recognize that disadvantaged minorities have been losing ground under affirmative action. Blacks and Hispanics […] … learn more→
Do University librarians have academic freedom?
Librarians in the University of California system are represented by the American Federation of Teachers. They are currently engaged in bargaining a new contract. In the course of that process the UC-AFT proposed that the following underlined language be added to Article 1, Recognition, in the new contract: The University recognizes librarians as academic employees, and further recognizes […] … learn more→
