Washington, DC – Baylor University’s Baylor in Washington program has been named an Oasis of Excellence for its strong liberal arts curriculum and dedication to broadening viewpoint diversity.
In 2014, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) began to identify and honor programs at colleges and universities across the country that promote the study of American history, Western Civilization, and the Great Books and model the free exchange of ideas. The Oases of Excellence project includes over 70 programs at a wide range of institutions and serves as a valuable resource for alumni and donors who are committed to supporting outstanding liberal arts education.
Baylor in Washington brings students to the nation’s capital for a semester of internships, mentorship, and integrated coursework. The program routinely hosts lectures and events in Washington, DC, that “model charitable discourse” and reach across “political, ideological, and theological divides.” These conversations focus on the intersection of faith and public policy and address the urgent challenges of our times—alleviating poverty, protecting religious freedom, and reforming criminal justice.
“Learning opportunities of this nature, rigorous and relevant to today’s issues, will equip students to safeguard our freedoms and democracy,” said Michael Poliakoff, president of ACTA. “In an age that is sadly defined too often by ignorance, programs like Baylor in Washington ensure that students who enter America’s higher education system can grow into the informed citizens our nation needs.”
ACTA is proud to partner with a program that provides future private and public leaders with the essential understanding of political and civic thought necessary to secure the health of constitutional government for generations to come.
MEDIA CONTACT: Connor Murnane
EMAIL: media@goacta.org
PHONE: (202) 798-5450
ACTA presented our 19th annual Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education to Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita at New York Law School and the first female president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
It started in 2017, before which many Purdue graduates went their entire academic career having never set foot in a literature or history class, Dr. Melinda Zook recalls. Now, they all do.
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.
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