Personal Development
While most commentaries on higher education suggest institutions solely exist to provide students the credentials they need to get the jobs they want, there’s more to it. Institutions also exist to develop the nation’s educated citizenry and to help individuals learn, grow and evolve.
Finding a Voice: Five Ways to Develop Resilience through Liberal Arts Education and Life
Jose Coll | Fellow, American Council on Education—Co-written with Eugenia Weiss | Associate Professor, University of Southern California— My (Jose’s) 18-year-old son, who graduated from high school in May, told me he was excited to be done…
Commoditization Lessens the Value of Higher Education to Society
Tom Castle | Dean of Adult Programs, Mount Mercy UniversityWhat is the value of a college degree? Politicians and pundits seem very concerned with this question, particularly in light of our current budget challenges and economic performance. While the…
Strength of Character: The Unique Good of Higher Education
Andrew Roth | President Emeritus, Notre Dame CollegeRecently, the question surfaced: “What makes education, as a ‘good,’ unique compared to other goods or services?” The question also asks, is education a good or a service? In economic…
My Educational Experiences and Future Plans
Moon Soe | Student, Metropolitan State UniversityThe following is one of two winning essays composed for the 2012 The Mary Cone Barrie Scholarship. The scholarship is one of few annual awards that recognize non-traditional students and…
How Higher Education Improved My Life
Virginia Wilson | Student, University of MaineThe following is one of two winning essays composed for the 2012 The Mary Cone Barrie Scholarship. The scholarship is one of few annual awards that recognize non-traditional students and…
Lifelong Learning: The Pursuit of True Happiness
Simon Quattlebaum | Teacher, New Jersey Public SchoolsTo a music lover watching a concert from the audience, it would be simple to believe that a conductor has one of the easiest jobs in the world. Yet, hidden…
Lessons from Abraham Lincoln, Dean of Lifelong Learning
Edward Abeyta | Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Director of Pre-Collegiate and Career Preparations Programs, UC San DiegoThis week, I am picking up from last week’s introduction to President Abraham Lincoln, the Founding Dean of Lifelong Learning. There are some lessons all lifelong learners could glean from…