College programs in the arts are described, and an essay on the role of the arts in liberal education is presented. In the essay, "Windows and Doors," Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. suggests that imagination is the primary agent of the educational process and is basic to moral development and moral thought. He argues that the arts have an important role,…

Ways that colleges and universities are responding to the new scholarship on women are described. First, an essay by Peggy McIntosh, "The Study of Women: Processes of Personal and Curricular Re-vision," considers stresses for the ego and challenges to the intellect that women's studies work brings to faculty members in traditional disciplines.…

Perspectives on developing international understanding are considered in an essay, and descriptions of the international education at 15 colleges and universities are presented. In the essay, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Slow Progress Toward International Understanding," James A. Perkins discusses barriers to change in internationalizing…

Ways that colleges and universities provide opportunities for students to improve their writing are discussed in two essays and program descriptions. In "Reinventing the Rhetorical Tradition: Finding Ways to Revalue Writing," Patrick Hartwell and Greg Waters briefly describe activities at colleges that center around the rhetorical tradition, and…

Descriptions of college programs that integrate civic issues and responsibilities are provided, along with an essay entitled "Liberal Education's Civic Agenda," by Arthur Levine and David Haselkorn. The essay recommends a curriculum that emphasizes such things as basic skills and problem solving, and values and ethics. The program descriptions…

A variety of general education programs and evaluation approaches are described, with a focus on assessments of student attitudes and achievement. The introductory essay by Jerry G. Gaff, "A Practical Approach to Evaluation," presents a three-step evaluation approach, as well as suggestions for general education program directors, deans, and…

Articles on improving preservice teacher education, with particular considerations on proposed five-year programs, are featured in this theme issue. In "Fifth Year Teacher Preparation: A Solution in Search Of a Problem," Alan R. Tom weighs the pros and cons of extending teacher preparation for a fifth year, noting the fact that high-quality…

Humanities programs at selected colleges are described, and the value of emphasizing subject matter in humanities programs is discussed in an article by Richard Ekman, "A Plea for Practical Idealism." The most effective programs encourage students to respect subject matter, engage important questions, and search for answers to the questions. The…

Projects at liberal arts colleges to help students understand technology, most of which were funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundations' New Liberal Arts Program, are described. Also included are John G. Truxal's essay, "Thoughts on Teaching Technology," which includes an illustration of technological problems/solutions posed by the pacemaker. The…

Liberal education offerings at 15 colleges directed to professionals, retired people, and other new audiences are described. An article by Peggy Ann Brown, "Recharging the Batteries on Totally New Fuel," describes four educational programs offered to professionals, including literature seminars at Brandeis University and the Dartmouth Institute's…