Grambling State University Deserves Praise for Economics Requirement

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has sent the following letter to Dr. Frank G. Pogue, interim president of Grambling State University, and to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, which oversees Grambling:

We are writing to commend Grambling State University as a standout in ensuring its students graduate with a core foundation of knowledge.

We have evaluated Grambling for our website WhatWillTheyLearn.com, which grades colleges and universities based on their requirements in the key subjects of English composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. history, economics, mathematics, and science. Grambling fares quite well in the evaluation, receiving high marks for its strong requirements in composition, literature, mathematics, science, and economics.

The university’s economics requirement is particularly noteworthy, as only three of the schools we have assessed require the subject as part of their undergraduate general education programs. With economic challenges at the forefront of the news these days, it is more important than ever for college graduates to have a basic grasp of economic principles. Grambling deserves great credit for requiring that students study such a crucial subject—especially when so many other colleges and universities are not doing so. As an institution serving a diverse and largely underserved student body, it is especially incumbent upon Grambling to guarantee that students who enroll will leave with a strong foundation of general education. Judging from its curriculum, the education students receive at Grambling will benefit them years after they graduate. We urge you to preserve this praiseworthy curriculum in the years to come.

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent, non-profit organization committed to academic freedom, excellence, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. We are pleased to serve as a resource for higher education leaders and policymakers across the United States. If we can be of any assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact us.

ACTA’s college-guide website WhatWillTheyLearn.com has been endorsed by Mel Elfin, founder of US News & World Report’s College Rankings, while The Wall Street Journal has called its focus on learning “admirable.” It currently features upwards of 170 colleges and universities than together enroll more than 2 million students.