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PURPOSE
The diverse educational communities of a comprehensive university have a common interest in liberal learning: it nurtures capabilities for creatively transforming human culture and complements specialized work by enlarging one’s personal and vocational pathways. Liberal education involves thinking critically, understanding contexts, engaging with other learners reflecting and acting, habits that extend liberal learning through a lifetime to benefit both the individual and society.
THINKING CRITICALLY
Thinking critically promotes imagination and intuition along with reasoning and evaluation. These diverse abilities contribute to achieving perspective, constructing and discerning relationships, and gaining understanding. Confidence in working with data and materials, skepticism in analyzing arguments or presentations, persistence in engaging complex problems and facility in communicating about technical matters are central to thinking critically. A skillful use of written and spoken languages, and informed use of mathematics and an ability to employ contemporary information sources are integral to thinking critically.
UNDERSTANDING CONTEXTS
Liberal learning cultivates the perspective
that present cultural circumstances are an historical
and a changing situation. Decisions about what is
to be studied, the forms in which knowledge appears
and the ways reasoning develops are to be continually
examined. Ways of knowing need active attention: gender,
class, racial identity, ethnicity, economic status
and regional identity condition our understanding;
temporal and spatial relationships, institutional
traditions, religious commitments, philosophic perspectives,
and political objectives shape our assumptions; influences
originating beyond geographic and social boundaries
affect what we know. Crucial to our future is knowledge
of the conceptual frameworks and achievements of the
arts, sciences, and technology, as well as understanding
of the earth’s ecosystem and the character of
global society.
ENGAGING WITH OTHER LEARNERS
A healthy exchange of conflicting ideas and differing viewpoints encourages rethinking of accepted perspectives; it requires making choices and taking risks. Diversity among learners, a supportive atmosphere of group work, active listening, opportunities for presenting and criticizing the results of inquiry and creative effort encourage learning, aid growth and stimulate imagination. Thoughtful and systematic inquiry about the learning process supports shared efforts, and positive advising situations and experiences outside the classroom reinforce them.
REFLECTING AND ACTING
Thinking critically and understanding contexts for knowledge in an engaging learning situation lead to reflection and informed action. Making thoughtful decisions and examining their consequences enhance personal moral commitment, enrich ethical understanding, and strengthen civic participation.
Adopted by University Council, April 6, 1987
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