Spring Break
If A&M wants to improve rankings it must strengthen liberal arts
By: Tim Aylsworth
Issue date: 4/21/05 Section: Opinion
This is the whole notion of studying humanities. While it does not give the specific technical knowledge required for certain positions, it teaches the student how to think critically and evaluate situations, how to learn independently, how to see a bigger picture and how to place value on various aspects of life.
A&M excels in engineering and agriculture. There shouldn't be an excessive compromise in such fields of study to create a better environment for the humanities. Many universities such as MIT have great technology studies and liberal arts. The problem is that liberal arts colleges do not bring in the same immediate revenue other studies might. It is much easier to obtain grants when a department such as engineering is pumping out patents. But this is a short-term concern. Money will make its way to A&M if it holds a place as a top-10 university, and it cannot do this without a strong foundation in the humanities.
A&M is at a specific disadvantage. Unlike many of the top universities in the nation, A&M started as a mechanical and agricultural land-grant college. When making the change to a university system in 1963, A&M had to play catch-up to bring departments such as liberal arts up to par. In its April 1997 edition, Texas Monthly points out, "The College of Liberal Arts has been A&M's biggest educational shortcoming over the years."
The argument is clear. The College of Liberal Arts is integral both historically and in the modern education system. It is the cornerstone of many top universities. It provides a gateway into other preparations for the workforce. George Will, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, said, "The term 'liberal arts' connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns. Yet liberal education is intensely useful. It is neither better nor worse than other studies. It is however a fundamental aspect of a certain type of life. It is the type of life that was originally pursued by academia."
The history of Texas A&M should not be ignored, and it should not abandon the studies that made it famous. A main pillar of Vision 2020 is finding a way to maintain what makes the school stand out, while destroying the barriers that keep it from being a top-10 school. This is exactly what needs to happen when considering the role liberal arts will play at this University.
A&M excels in engineering and agriculture. There shouldn't be an excessive compromise in such fields of study to create a better environment for the humanities. Many universities such as MIT have great technology studies and liberal arts. The problem is that liberal arts colleges do not bring in the same immediate revenue other studies might. It is much easier to obtain grants when a department such as engineering is pumping out patents. But this is a short-term concern. Money will make its way to A&M if it holds a place as a top-10 university, and it cannot do this without a strong foundation in the humanities.
A&M is at a specific disadvantage. Unlike many of the top universities in the nation, A&M started as a mechanical and agricultural land-grant college. When making the change to a university system in 1963, A&M had to play catch-up to bring departments such as liberal arts up to par. In its April 1997 edition, Texas Monthly points out, "The College of Liberal Arts has been A&M's biggest educational shortcoming over the years."
The argument is clear. The College of Liberal Arts is integral both historically and in the modern education system. It is the cornerstone of many top universities. It provides a gateway into other preparations for the workforce. George Will, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, said, "The term 'liberal arts' connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns. Yet liberal education is intensely useful. It is neither better nor worse than other studies. It is however a fundamental aspect of a certain type of life. It is the type of life that was originally pursued by academia."
The history of Texas A&M should not be ignored, and it should not abandon the studies that made it famous. A main pillar of Vision 2020 is finding a way to maintain what makes the school stand out, while destroying the barriers that keep it from being a top-10 school. This is exactly what needs to happen when considering the role liberal arts will play at this University.
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