In light of the findings in What Will They Learn? that many of our leading universities have a diffuse and impoverished curriculum, this companion guide provides suggestions for trustees who would like to review and strengthen the core requirements at their institutions. Restoring a Core succinctly explains the importance and continuing relevance of a core and lays out the eight steps to implementing a coherent and rigorous curriculum that will prepare students to become informed citizens, productive workers and lifelong learners.
This study reveals that while most colleges continue to endorse the importance of a solid general education program, many have abandoned such programs in favor of a loose set of distribution requirements. As a result of this “do-it-yourself” approach to the curriculum, students at many of our leading universities are graduating without the broad-based education […]
In this 11th edition of its flagship annual survey of college general education curricula, What Will They Learn?, ACTA shines a light on the wide disparity in academic standards at institutions of higher learning across the country. What Will They Learn? reviews the core curricula of over 1,100 four-year public and private institutions to determine the […]
ACTA’s report The Cost of Chaos in the Curriculum reveals that the vast array of course choices given to college students is a cause of exploding costs and poor academic outcomes. And a bloated undergraduate curriculum is particularly detrimental to the success of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The report documents how at most colleges and […]
General education doesn’t often make headlines. But thanks to the groundbreaking efforts in Colorado to ensure a rigorous statewide core curriculum, Colorado is making national news. At a time of breathtaking changes and ever-growing bodies of information, Colorado’s focus on a strong general education will give its college graduates a competitive edge. Students in other […]
A vast gulf separates the ages of 18 and 22. According to law, when we turn 18 a switch is flipped and we become adults. Suddenly we can vote, we can choose where we live, we can decide what classes we take in college. Choosing college course work well is both difficult and high-stakes. In […]
“It cannot be assumed that students at any age will always select the subjects that constitute education. … In any field the permanent studies on which the whole development of the subject rests must be mastered if the student is to be educated.” — Robert Maynard Hutchins, former University of Chicago president and chancellor I cite that statement, […]
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.