DOCUMENT RESUME HE 028 050 ED 378 899 Celebrating Challenges of Change: Liberal Arts TITLE Colleges Meeting National Needs. Selected Proceedings from the Anniversary Conference of the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) (13th, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 31-April 3, 1993). Great Lakes Colleges Association, Ann Arbor, Mich. INSTITUTION PUB DATE 94 NOTE 140p. Great Lakes ..olleges Association, 2929 Plymouth Rd., AVAILABLE FROM Suite 207, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3206 ($15). Conference Proceedings (021) Collected Works PUB TYPE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Citizenship; College Role; College Students; DESCRIPTORS Consortia; Cooperative Programs; *Educational Change; Educational Needs; Educational Quality; Futures (of Society); General Education; Higher Education; Institutional Mission; Intercollegiate Cooperation; Leadership; *Liberal Arts; Minority Groups; Multicultural Education; *Private Collages; Undergraduate Study *Great Lakes Colleges Association IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This volume presents selected proceedings of a conference which focused on the need to continue to link the mission and purposes of institutions with the national need fcr educated citizen/leaders. The first part of the conference provided the forum for informed observers from outside the academy to identify their perceptions of the liberal arts college of today and its challenges. From this portion of the conference this volume presents opening remarks, discussion and presentations on confronting challenges while sustaining values, and an exploration of multicultural issues and educating students of color. The second portion of the conference highlighted the achievements of the consortium and addressed other possible collective initiatives for excellence in undergraduate education. From this portion of the conference the volume includes discussions of 30 years of educational change and prospects for the future, multicultural education and the challenges it presents for the future, and the liberal arts and sciences college as an enduring and successful type of institution. Appendixes contain the conference program, a list of GLCA programs and initiatives, members of the 1992-93 GLCA board of directors, and list of supporting foundations. (JB) ***********h*********************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. *********************************************************************** --- - - r 1._ 1 ON 00 00 CELEBRATING CHALLENGES OF CHANGE Liberal Arts Colleges Meeting National Needs Selected Proceedings from the GLCA. Thirtieth Anniversary Conference March 31 to April 3, 1993-Indianapolis, Indiana U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Offc of Educational Rmrch and impicwitinent MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI Great Lakes docutnent has Cn (produced at Trcros ',Voted Iron. this person or organization onqinating it Colleges Association CI Minor changes have been mad to improve reproduction quality PIN nts of weer or opinions slated .n this docu TO THE EDUCATIO'IAL RESOURCES (nerd do not necessarily represent Official ti OERI positron or policy INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" GREAT LAKES .COLLEGES ASSOCIATION. \ Ae 2. AIIIM !lik BEST COPY AVAILABLE CELEBRATING CHALLENGES OF CHANGE Liberal Arts Colleges Meeting National Needs Selected Proceedings from the GI, CA Thirtieth Anniversary Conference March 31 to April 3, 1993Indianapolis, Indiana GREAT LAKES COLLEGES ASSOCIATION 3 light ( Op\ 1119.1.(ii(.311.11,(...,(.011(.g(,1 Assik1,1111111 1 4 PREFACE activities sponsored by the consortium This volume contains summaries and with a eye towards its past, a celebration of selected presentations from the thirtieth its achievementsind anticipation of the anniversary conference sponsored by the issues and initiatives needing consortial Great Lakes Colleges Association on March attention for the future. 31 through April 3, 1993. The purpose of The conference was held in Indiana- the conference entitled Cdcbratint; Cha/- polis, Indiana at the Westin Hotel and /eves t!/. Change.: Liberal Arts Colleges Meeting National Needs was twofoldto celebrate supported by grants from: the Ameritech Foundation, the Ball Brothers Foundation. the thirtieth anniversary of the consortium the I lerbert H. and Grace A. I )ow and to address the issues that would etlect the future definition of liberal arts and l'011iklAt1011, the George Gund Foundation, the I Illy Endowment, and the Charles]. sciences institutions. Strosacker Foundation. Attendance From the outset, the put-pose was more numbered over 190, bringing together than celebratory. The annivelsary pt twitted ulty, admmistrators, star ii ember an opportunity for the twelve institutions alumni. and trustees f:oin the consortial in the association to identify the challenges colleges and, in addition, guests front other facing private, residential, liberal arts institutions and organizations. colleges tOcused on undergraduate edit( .1 A planning committee headed by 14. don. The intent was to confront the I AWrellie I). Bryan, President of challenges, seek resolutions, and reassert 1:alatnazoo College, guided the develop- the values of excellence in undergraduate ment of the conference. Dr. Jeanine L. education and of collegial commumtv. Elliott, Vice President of the GLCA, gave The conference was divided into two leadership to the organization and planning parts. For the first, speakers from outside of the second portion of the co,lerence. the academy were invited to present the Gratethl acknowledgement is due to each perspectives of informed commentators on and every GLCA staff member who the issues before the liberal arts and worked so diligently and effectively to sciences college of today. Many of these make the conference a success. speakers were graduates of the (;LCA institutions. thus bringing some familiarity (uardo Caro: J. with the type of education offered. They are t ',mends engaged. however, in their President own professional endeavors in walks of Ilk other than higher education. The second portion of the conference focused on the 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Celebrating Challenges of Change: Liberal Arts Colleges Meeting National Needs Conference Overview Part I: The View from the Outside 9 Synopsis Selected Proceedings: Opening Remarks 17 Carol.J. Guardo 18 Richard J. Wood 19 Lawrence D. Bryan Confronting the Challenges. Sustaining the Values 23 Melvin L. Vulgamore 23 Richard M. Smith 31 Richard J. Wood Multicultural Issues and the Education of Students of Color 37 Robert G. Bottoms 18 Edgar F. Beckham 45 John W. Porter Commentary 51 Michele Tolela Myers Part II: Inside Perspectives 57 Synopsis Selected Proceedings: Forward and Looking Back Thirty Years of Educational ChangeLooking 63 Paul C. McKinney 63 l'eter Frederick 67 Gail B. Griffin 71 Yvonne C. Williams 75 Neal W. Sobania of Higher Education Multicultural Education and Its Challenges for the Future Len (lark 6 Manning Marable 82 98 Gwyneth Kirk The Liberal Arts and Sciences College: An Enduring American Success Story Jacob E. Nyenhuis 105 Closing Plenary Carol J. Guardo 113 Jenifer K. Ward 113 R. Blake Michael 115 Marilyn J. LaPlante 119 John H. Jacobson 120 Elaine Comegys I 20 Appendices Conference Program Appendix A: 125 GLCA Programs and Initiatives Appendix B: 131 1992-1993 GLCA Board of Directors Appendix C: 145 Supporting Foundations Appendix I): 147 7 CONFERENCE OVERVIEW the tUture. presidents discussed the As the CI ( The presidents recognized that contem- theme for the conference, i clear and porary issues strike to the heart of the compelling message emergedthat the imperative of the I990s is twofold: not to essence, mission, and viability of these institutions in the face of a future which conduct "business as usual.- and not to might demand quite ditrerent educational "rest on laurels," caller now, or in antici- responses from those of the past. The pation of the challenges of the halm'. In responses would entail a critical examina- positive terms, the need is to once again tion of the essential character of these inextricably link the mission and purposes of the institutions with the meeting of institutions, distinctive tin- their excellence in undergraduate teaching. national needs for educated citizen' leaders. The challenges of change. as perceived Flaying a long and commendable record of 1w the presidents, pose tests to the resih- preparing such graduates is not sufficient to ency and resourcetnIness of these Institu- ensure long-term viability. especially at the tions due to: exceptional level of quality that has determined and defined the reputation and pressures on presidential leadership. purpose of these institutions tin decades. demographic changes with the The conclusions trout the discussion potential to transfocm the traditional were unambiguouschange is inevitable: composition of student bodies and change is necessary: the nature of change is faculties, profound and might even be radical. All management issues dealing with agreed that the institutions must change. pricing and competition, And Inw.s better to address these circum- lack of public good will, and stances than to confront the challenges of threats to the ethos of community. change and celebrate them. The individual rhese issues, cast m shorthand, mt hide colleges have ably met the cycles of need the atrordability. accountaklitY. dtualnlitY, fort hinge in higher education for well and even sumvability of the high quality, ',set a hundred vent's. All have collectively ( 'A colleges have institutions which the 4."k-=and stmt cessfully addressed such issues ithin the consortium for the past three historically been. ss The first poition of the t onletent det advs. l'hese institutions, in short, have infOrmed ohserVets provided the fOrum nt'ver faded to adapt in the past. With the 11'0111 outside the academy to Identify: (I) w Ill to change and to embrace change, their perceptions of the liberal arts and then- vital role in meeting national needs sclences college Or today amid (2) OW t mild, and should, he extended t:it: limbo 8 I retained and adapted to the changing challenges to these institutions as seen from demography of the campuses of the an external perspective. A synthesis of the future. presentations yield: an agenda tOr change that is twofoldderiving from value. and File remaining agenda is derived fona benefits which should be sustained and the challenges which institutions of liberal from challenges which are to be met. arts and st tent e face as they move into the A significant portion of the agenda for future and a new nullenmum. Some of colleges of liberal arts and sciences is to these challenges stem from external factors. preserve. sustain. and carry thrward a set of and mhos invols e tiansformations which values and benefits which accrue to a must ot cur within the institutions. liberal education. These values and benefits t hallenges include: 1 hr include: (/ ',boa! ,olksy.s. Publit mphasis on quality tcadiint!. . In Public perceptions are 'weighted The characteristics of quality teaching toward the negative, especially as cited involve the nientoring of portrayed in the popular media. Both students by caring faculty, faculty who students and their families perceive have collaborative relationships with tuition and the costs of attendance to students. such that students gain be soaring. They question both the knowledge ti-om their example and value of the education for their dollars inspiration from their enthusiasm. and the affordability of a liberal arts Quality teaching also opens new education at a private, residential horizons for students. It assists them in college. The challenge is to keep the developing the ability to deal with new institutions atliardableeven to subjects. gather informationmalyze partisans, namely alumni, who would and ask questions, and to have the prefer to send their children to such courage to test boundaries. It involves institutions, but also perceive the cost an orientation to undergraduate to be prohibitive. research and collaborative learning and, In addition, the t riot isms that have most importantly. it demonstrates a been levied against large, Impersonal ss dimwit..s to tackle ethical issues. universities where teat ping is set on day to research have been genetalized (1t)1. ofonintinny. to all Institutions of higher learning. l'he values inherent in small t °mum For the small, private, residential tutus t ollt gtal telationslups and a college, the task is to retain the tot us need to be sense (aluminium purpose dangers and its promises. on the primacy of undergraduate teaching and to make that priority .111(1 Vii.educationa/ climates, reality known. Students need an education tree from Other perceptionsthat these stereotypes concerning gender, race colleges are remote from the "real and sexual orientation. Institutions world" as well as "too white" and need to consider the elimination of middle class, that they are for the elite, exclusive organizations. They have the .1 luxury tier the affluent, that they obligation to create an environment provide inadequate career preparation, where women can 1/0011111 without and that they project an image of sexual harassment or discouragement political correctnessmust all be in the classroom and underrepresented overcome it these colleges are to groups are also provided w nh suppor- remain competitive in the higher tive and encouraging environments. edtk ation marketplace. Learning opportunities need to VICHICIlf Of the 0111616011 of thell111111'. include the experiential. as contrasted to the merely intellectual, and The curriculum of the future must multicultural education needs to be include the development of techno- transformative--of the individual and logical literacy in studc:k. and greater the institution. Such environments will use of technology in the educational .allow the integration of personal and process. Students must be enabled to cultural self-esteem in all students, deal with greater diversity both at especially students of color. And, home and abroad. This may involve above all, the liberal arts and sciences more language training, so that they college must provide a guarantee of may function etrectively in other cultures, ind an understanding of tree speech. global interdependence. They need as In light of these perceptions and well a scientific literacy such that pressures, it is incumbent on liberal arts and complex concepts and phenomena are sciences institutions to recognize that the accessible to them so that they can he strategies of the past are insufficient for the responsible cm/ens whose lives stand present and inadequate tin- the future. Not to be affected by new scientific only as they pertain to newer ageltda advances and challenges. Lastly, they priorities such as multicultural minatives, need to have engendered in them an but also as they pertain to virtually every orientation toward the future- its aspect of imOttitional functioning. i he 10