Beyond the Emerald City: Essential Skills and General Education Matter in Higher Education
Today's students might not need to fly on a broomstick or lead an army of flying monkeys, but they do need to navigate complex work environments, solve unpredictable challenges, and collaborate with people from all walks of life. A well-rounded education doesn’t just prepare students for a single job; it equips them with the broader skills they’ll need to apply their expertise in meaningful ways.
Why General Education Credits Matter
When a society is built on a population with a well-rounded education, everybody wins. We all win when choices are being made by people who understand how to interpret data; express complex ideas effectively; think critically and contextually; and create logical, actionable plans. You owe it to your fellow citizens to be one of those people.
What Should Student Success Outcomes Mean to Us?
I will be one of the first ones to tell you that student outcomes matter, but with an increasingly narrow focus on them, is higher education missing the bigger picture in defining graduates’ success? Based on the 27/73% split in the statistic above and how institutions are required to report outcomes, I am not a “success”.
A Dent in the Universe
If the vision of higher education is to change the lives of individuals through the education of future generations, then pathways need to present unobstructed options for students to achieve their academic goals.