| A Liberal Arts
Education at Alverno College: Making Connections
Sometimes colleges and universities are described as “ivory towers,” places far-removed from everyday life and the practical concerns of many students. This is not the case at Alverno College. We take very seriously what the Association of American Colleges and Universities says in their report, Greater Expectations. After long discussions with representatives from higher education, corporate executives, and civic and community leaders, the Association concluded that a liberal arts education should “develop practical competencies so students can make a difference in the world.” The innovative faculty at Alverno, noted world-wide for their approach to teaching, have designed a curriculum that requires students to make connections between the ideas they are studying and their own lives as individuals, citizens, and professionals. The faculty see the classroom, not as a place to pass on information, but as a place for students to practice the kinds of thinking and doing that they will need in their lives. Indeed, much of the learning at Alverno draws from and takes place beyond the classroom in contexts where students put their studies to use. Imagine a college where: • You show what you have learned by what you
can do with it Alverno College does have “greater expectations”
for its students and is dedicated to helping them make the connections
that will serve them well throughout their lives.
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