Public Education and
the Liberal Arts

- Prof. Deborah Foss -
Dept. of Psychology and
Fac. Association Pres.


[This piece was first delivered when Prof. Deb Foss, as President of the Faculty Association, addressed the '98 Commencement exercises. Her speech succinctly outlines some basic values that have informed our discussion on becoming a public liberal arts college. ]

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President Aceto, members of the Platform Party, my very valued Colleagues, Guests, and to the reason we are all gathered here this morning, the inaugural Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Graduating Class of 1998:

I bring you greetings from the faculty and librarians at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. We are here today to recognize the accomplishments of many people, most notably the graduates seated before us. It is also a time to recognize the contributions that families and friends have made to our students' achievements.

To our graduates: The faculty, staff, and administrators at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are to be commended for providing you with an environment of the highest quality, an atmosphere where you have been challenged to think, to question, to analyze and to evaluate -- in gaining knowledge about yourselves and the world in which you live. What you have gotten out of your education thus far has been largely your responsibility -- what you do with your education from this point on is also your responsibility.

I speak today on behalf of the entire faculty. What a responsibility -- it would be much easier to talk to you about human sexuality or psychological statistics and testing (well, maybe later). Actually, my final lesson will (hopefully) transcend all our disciplines (and even better, it requires no notes, no paper, no exam). These remarks are in the form of a challenge to you, to think about the value of having studied at, ready to earn a degree from a public liberal arts college.

Each of you, like most of us, traveled different paths in coming to North Adams State College. Some of you arrived in September of 1994 as first-year students, commuting or moving into Berkshire Towers, and enrolling (albeit not of your own free will) in this "thing" called First Year Seminar. Some climbed Mount Greylock that first semester, others have been climbing "Mount Murdock" ever since! Later, others joined us as transfer students, wise to many of the "nuts and bolts" of higher education. Still others came to college at a later time in their lives, full of real world experience and apprehensive about "starting over" in a bachelors or masters degree program.

Even with these differences, let us examine some of the commonalties that define the purpose of a liberal arts education (and let us see how well we've done educating you).

We live in an era where the public-at-large views higher education as the road to a job, a career. "The Job" is very important, for it gives some a sense of security in what is, at times, an insecure world (and who am I to complain -- I have the greatest job in the world!).

A liberal arts education commits itself both to the value of educating for careers and for whole lives. Its purpose is found in making connections -- liberally educated people are those who can put their learning into a larger perspective, into the context of life.

Gaining knowledge in one's own discipline is important. For many of you, pursuing a particular major may have been the reason you entered North Adams State College.

As you prepare to graduate from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, I hope that one of the lessons you have learned is that none of the truly important questions can be answered within the confines of a single discipline. Let me explain.

Your college education should not be measured by time served at an institution (which sounds rather confining, like a prison sentence) but by knowledge gained, in building a foundation for future, lifelong learning (sounds rather liberating and expansive, doesn't it?)

Herein lies the value of a liberal arts education -- a thoughtful inquiry into the very essence of learning. Consider the following questions that transcend disciplines --

What qualities of your education will meet the demand's of any of tomorrow's professions? Those of the next decade?

What knowledge have you gained that will aid you in your journey to be responsible, loving family members and friends?

Society needs contributing members to its democracy -- who makes up our nation and what contributions might we make in our continuing evolution?

The time pressures of people's lives challenge us to educate students for critical decision making, coming to considered judgments, making choices. Have you also learned to use leisure time for recreation and renewal?

Have we also educated your imagination, so that your lives, in and outside of your jobs and careers, are enriched and deepened?

If you can think and reflect on these questions and make some connections to your own lives, then no matter what your major, a liberal arts education has already begun to serve you well. (And you and you loved ones can take great satisfaction in money well spent on you college education!)

I began this challenge by asking you to think about the value of a public liberal arts education. I need to point out one more connection, the valuing of the "public" part. It is for me a very real, personal, and professionally held belief in, and commitment to, public higher education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I can best illustrate this value by posing a few more questions -- How many of you here today would not be graduating from college if it were not for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and public higher education?

For how many of you would college have been an unreachable goal?

How many of you, along with your families, would be looking at a decade of being burdened with 70, 80, or even 90 thousand dollars in student loans if Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and public higher education did not exist?

THERE IS BUT ONE THING MORE COSTLY THAN GOING TO COLLEGE, AND THAT IS BEING DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND COLLEGE BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH COST.

Many of you, like me, would not be here today without public higher education. As beneficiaries of a state college system that strives to equalize opportunity and provide access to quality education, each of you faces the challenge of becoming a voice in support of public higher education. I trust that you will add your voice to mine as you join the ranks of graduates of public higher education who are making their marks on the world. Many of us are proud graduates of state colleges and universities and we welcome you into our group.

And so today is COMMENCEMENT. A beginning. Looking forward and moving beyond. During your tenure here, we, the faculty and librarians, have worked with you, taught you, lectured you, listened to you, discussed with you, frustrated you, challenged you, helped you, cajoled you, coached you, pleaded with you, cheered you on, disagreed with you, collaborated with you, cared about you, laughed with you, and today, above all other days, congratulate you and share in your success as college graduates.

You will go onward, to careers and to the rest of your life. We wish you well, but we can't wish you the best career and job, for we have that right here -- teaching and doing the work of the faculty, staff, and administration of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Please don't ever underestimate the value of what your graduation today represents. YOU are a college graduate and that is no small accomplishment by anyone's standards.

It's a great view from up here. Savor the moment you walk across this stage today. And then go on to savor all that life offers. We wish each of you the very best.

Thank you.




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