Via the Gallup:
Higher education is buzzing about whether the term liberal artseffectively communicates the relevance and utility of this venerable approach to postsecondary education. A recent Inside Higher Ed/Gallup study underscores the need for this discussion. Fewer than one in 10 college and university admissions directors and senior enrollment managers agree or strongly agree that prospective students understand the value of a liberal arts education. The majority of admissions directors — 69% — disagree or strongly disagree.
Admissions directors are about as doubtful that parents of prospective students are clear about the value of liberal arts programs. Just 10% agree or strongly agree that parents understand the value of a liberal arts education, while almost two in three, 64%, disagree or strongly disagree that they understand it. Admissions directors at private institutions are modestly more likely than their peers from public institutions to agree or strongly agree (15% vs. 5%, respectively) that parents understand the value of liberal arts.
While college admissions directors believe that prospective students and their families lack clarity about the value of a liberal arts education, they almost universally see a broader communication issue regarding the value of earning higher education degrees. Ninety-five percent of admissions directors agree or strongly agree that higher education needs to do a better job of explaining the value of earning college degrees.
