AAC&U's Integrative Liberal Learning and the CAS Standards: Advising for a 21st Century Liberal Education

Abstract

The Association of American Colleges and Universities presented and promoted integrative liberal learning as a collaborative goal that all institutions of higher education must strive to achieve. The similarities between the goals of integrative liberal learning and the Standards for Academic Advising by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education are discussed with emphasis placed on the critical role that academic advising plays in support of an integrative liberal learning education, and in turn, future success for all students.

The fifth discipline: looking ahead

“…The mission of liberal arts colleges is to help develop students into critical, creative and freethinkers and knowledgeable citizens that could be respected for their wide range of knowledge and skills such as communication and problem-solving skills. As Robbins (2014) put it, they aim to “develop the whole student for personal growth, economic productivity, and responsible citizenship.” Some liberal arts colleges have added programs in various applied fields such as in engineering, public policy and business administration which still reflect liberal arts ideas. Students are trained to become well-rounded people capable of not only acceptance of others and their diversity, but also of enjoying relationships with others.…”

Common thread: The Fifth Discipline from a liberal arts college perspective

“…Both perspectives share the same objectives, i.e. to “develop the whole student for personal growth, economic productivity and responsible citizenship” (Robbins, 2014). Some experts stress, however, that liberal learning differs in that it places less emphasis on traditional liberal arts subjects as the sole means of achieving these learning goals (Schoenberg, 2009).…”

“…Society is changing so quickly that knowledge ultimately becomes outdated and loses its value. Instead, students must develop the skills that equip them for life-long learning (Robbins, 2014; AAC&U, 2020). Like the liberal arts tradition (Rhodes, 2010), Senge (1990) regards learning as both an active and inter active process.…”

“…Comparable to Senge’s personal mastery, the liberal arts tradition also emphasizes living up to one’s full potential (Robbins, 2014; Koblik and Graubard, 2000). The notion of systems thinking has also gained traction within the LAC community (Varlotta, 2018), and has even been called a “new liberal art” (Carlson, 2017).…”

High Impact Practices and Professional School Acceptance in Health Science Concentrations

“…Academic advisors have an opportunity to be ''intentional interaction designers'' by recommending student experiences that will help advisees meet postgraduation goals (Shockley-Zalabak, 2012, p. 13). Through advising interactions, academic advisors can teach students to become more intentional about their education and to value integrative educational experiences while promoting the long-term benefits of such experiences (Robbins, 2014).…”