As you consider ways to assess liberal arts education at your institution, you may be interested in the following articles. These articles range from the Center of Inquiry's definition of liberal arts education to current research projects about liberal arts education and its effects on students. Our hope is that these readings will offer exciting starting points for you to enter into a dialogue about liberal arts education, why it is valuable, and why it is important to assess it.
Articles Available Online
Defining Liberal Arts Education
by Charles F. Blaich, Anne Bost, Ed Chan, and Richard Lynch
Written by Center of Inquiry staff members, this piece outlines our approach to the question, "What is a liberal arts education?" It is helpful if you want to learn more about the Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts and the working definition of liberal arts education that guides our work.
A Liberal Arts Education Changes Lives: Why Everyone Can and Should Have This Experience
by Gregory C. Wolniak, Tricia A. Seifert, and Charles F. Blaich
This piece centers around two major questions: How does a liberal arts education benefit students? and, Is effective liberal arts education limited to liberal arts institutions?
Liberal Arts Colleges: Taking the Lead on Assessment and Accountability
by Richard H. Hersh
Richard Hersh makes the case for the educational imperative for assessment. He suggests that liberal arts colleges have an obligation to lead the charge in addressing issues of educational accountability. As you read this article, consider what kinds of evidence could help make you and your colleagues more effective liberal arts educators.
9 Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning
by Alexander W. Astin, Trudy W. Banta, K. Patricia Cross, Elaine El Khawas, Peter T. Ewell, Pat Hutchings, Theodore J. Marchese, Kay M. McClenney, Marcia Mentkowski, Margaret A. Miller, E. Thomas Moran, and Barbara D. Wright
This is a compilation of thoughtful guidelines for assessment practices. Although it does not discuss liberal arts education outcomes in particular, it does encourage reflection, institutional commitment, and a desire to change for the better.
Do Liberal Arts Colleges Really Foster Good Practices in Undergraduate Education? (pdf)
by Ernest T. Pascarella, Ty M. Cruce, Gregory C. Wolniak, and Charles F. Blaich
This study estimated the net effects of liberal arts colleges on 19 measures of good practices in undergraduate education, grouped into seven categories. Liberal arts colleges evidenced stronger positive impacts on a broad range of good practices in undergraduate education than did either research universities or regional institutions.
The Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education Liberal Arts Outcomes
by P.M. King, Kendall Brown, N.K. Lindsay, J.R. VanHecke, M.J. Mayhew, and G. Potworowski; Liberal Arts Assessment Conference, Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts at Wabash College, August 2004
This document describes the seven outcomes that the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education research team chose to examine.
Other Articles
The Truth May Make You Free, but the Test May Keep You Imprisoned: Toward Assessment Worthy of the Liberal Arts
by Grant Wiggins
Read a paragraph about this article and find out how to locate it.