There has never been a moment in this country’s history when the fate of American society didn’t rely upon citizens thinking critically and making informed decisions. But something about the times we are living in now feels different. Maybe it’s because so many outlets are ready to supply information. Maybe it’s because we are deluged by data in our tech-centered daily cycles of consumption. For whatever reason, the pillars of liberal arts and science education feel so much more vital today than they ever have before: critical thinking, cultural wisdom, effective communication, creative problem-solving, and life-long learning. These shouldn’t be shallow buzzwords, boxes on a graduation form, or empty promises to pump up a resume. When we say that we aim to train our students to become “intellectually engaged global citizens” what do we mean?
As global citizens, our graduates identify as something beyond their individual selves. Global citizens make choices in their professional careers that reflect their understanding of how interconnected our planet is. Global citizens take responsibility for how their decisions can help protect or undermine the health and the safety of others. The consequences of our students’ judgments as they progress past our university will reflect the attitudes and the aptitudes they learned while they were here.
For our students, the journey through academia means that they learn how to ask the questions that will keep them on the path to becoming better human beings. The critical thinking skills they acquire will prepare them to evaluate not only how they will contribute professionally but how they will form and express what they believe personally. That’s what a liberal arts and sciences education can do.
The cliché is that we aren’t teaching our students what to think, but we are teaching them how to think. In these challenging times, it is perhaps most rewarding to reflect on the ways that a liberal arts and sciences education helps students to think not only for themselves, but of themselves as a meaningful part our global community.
Final note: I want to introduce everyone to Rob Stiner, CLAS’s new Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration. Stiner worked on the Anschutz Medical Campus for the past 14 years, the last 10 as a director of finance and administration. He has been affiliated as a student or employee at all of the CU campuses except Colorado Springs (BA from Boulder, MPA from Denver, and worked at Anschutz). He grew up in the foothills west of Denver, enjoys doing pretty much anything in the mountains (especially hiking, biking, and skiing) and enjoys camping and traveling with his wife. We are excited to have him with us. Please join me in extending a warm CLAS welcome to Rob.
