One of the highlights of the Fall 2009 semester was the celebration of 100 years of Liberal Arts education at Penn State.
Edwin Erle Sparks, the 8th President of Penn State, established the College of the Liberal Arts in 1909 by bringing art and mathematics together with the School of Language and Literature and the School of History and Political Science. (For more on our history, see the CLA website.)
Who in 1909 would have imagined that their work and the values they embodied would be written about in media that, with the click of a button, makes their words and deeds instantly accessible to an infinite number of people, each of whom is empowered to respond directly to what they have done?
As we begin our second century, it is perhaps fitting to pause a moment to consider: how will liberal arts students, faculty, staff, and alums commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the College; what will have changed; and what will endure?
In considering this, I am confident of only two things:
- Education in the liberal arts will have been transformed by the digital media revolution through which we are living; and
- The values and abilities taught by the liberal arts – respect for diversity, ethical leadership, excellence in communication, and creative, critical thinking – will remain of decisive importance for a successful and meaningful life in 2109.
Let me end by inviting you to respond to any or all of the following questions:
- How has the liberal arts experience at Penn State changed over the past 100 years?
- What are the values, skills, and ideas that endure?
- How will an education in the liberal arts change in the next 5, 10, 50, 100 years?
- What forms of communication will the College community use to commemorate our bicentennial?