Thomas M. Rollins, founder of The Teaching Company, speaks eloquently on the importance of the liberal arts and sciences, which he remarked are about everything. He delivered these remarks upon accepting the 2012 Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education, with tributes from Professor William Cook, State University of New York-Geneseo; Professor Daniel Robinson, Oxford University; Professor Alan Charles Kors, University of Pennsylvania; and political consultant Bob Shrum.
Historian David McCullough highlights the importance of history through captivating stories about great teachers who taught some of our most important historical figures. His remarks were given upon accepting the 2011 Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education, with tributes from Jay Walker, Daniel P. Jordan, Brent D. Glass, and Richard Norton […]
Remarks by Dr. Gary W. Gallagher, the John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American Civil War at the University of Virginia, upon accepting the 2013 Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education, with tributes from John L. Nau III, president and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors; Professor Melvyn […]
Robert David “KC” Johnson, professor of history at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York Graduate Center, speaks of the need for the serious study of diplomatic, military, and political history. His remarks were given upon accepting the fifth annual Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education, with tributes from […]
Letter to the Editor: Florida is the latest state to propose offering incentives for college students toward “high demand” majors, including STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and health care fields (“To Steer Students Toward Jobs, Florida May Cut Tuition for Select Majors,” news article, Dec. 10). This makes sense, particularly for businesses struggling to […]
As the United States staggered out of the Great Recession, policymakers and pundits were all too eager to question the liberal arts. Philosophy, creative writing, drama, and other humanities majors were too open-ended, they said, an indulgence at a time when the country needed welders, programmers, and nurses, and when young people needed jobs. Barack […]
A liberal-arts education prepares students for participation in public life. During an era of “fake news,” post-truth politics, political intolerance, and polarization, various solutions to these woes have been proposed. Potential reforms range from changing political institutions to establishing new standards for social-media companies. Much less-discussed—and almost forgotten in the fray—is the educational role of […]
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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