Helping Students Understand and Articulate the Value of Their Liberal Arts Education

Tristen Shay Assistant Head Advisor

Kerry Thomas Academic Advisor

College of Liberal Arts

Oregon State University

Learning Outcomes

• Review environmental pressures facing Liberal Arts majors • Discuss the value of a Liberal Arts Education • Explore advising programming that works with students from

prospective status through graduation

“The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think” -Albert Einstein

Liberal Arts Detractors

• News articles • Family and

Friends • Campus culture • Non-linear path

to career • The big question “What are you going to do with that?”

Necessity of Liberal Arts

• Technical vs. practical skills • US Labor Department- 7 unique careers between graduation

and retirement • 60% of future jobs don’t exist yet • Global Citizen- preparation for more than just a job • “This is not just a major- it’s who I am”

In Small Groups In Groups: What do you see as issues for Liberal Arts students on your campus? How do you address those issues?

Envision the future

• Business Card Binder

• Ambassador Blog

• Alumni Blog

• Student Stories

Speech Comm

Art

Anthropology

Theatre Arts

Philosophy

Psychology English

Spanish

Prospective through First Year

• Visit Programs-Ambassadors

• START- New Student Orientation

• CONNECT- Welcome first years to campus

• Centralized advising • Winter Welcome • Matriculation Ceremony

“Graduate with a Diploma in one hand and a Resume in the other.”

Sophomore and Junior Years

• Transition to major advising • Dedicated major advisors • Internships • Workshops in partnership with

career services • Study abroad • Research • Halfway point check-in

Senior year through graduation

• Tandem Advising • Central and Major

• Degree Works- MyDegrees

• Recognition of Exceptional Seniors

• Alumni event- connect advisors and students

• Graduation Reception • Graduation video- advice for first years

What Questions do you have about our approach?

What would you like to share from your institution?