by Robert A. Scott
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I was honored to speak at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York recently. My assignment was to speak to students and faculty, especially those involved in the first year seminar courses, those for whom my book, “Letters to Students: What It Means To Be a College Graduate,” (co-authored with Dr. Drew Bogner) is intended.
After summarizing the content and approach of our book, I spoke about my life and career and introduced my philosophy of undergraduate education.
College is, or should be, as much about character development and active citizenship as it is about preparation for careers and advancement in commerce. I think the foundation for advanced learning is the liberal arts, no matter if the major is nursing, business, or communication. Liberal arts education, i.e., education for free citizens, fosters the ability to distinguish between what is true and what is false. It is not just about “how to do” a task but also how to think, analyze, comprehend, and communicate. It liberates students from prejudice masquerading as principle without losing sight of their heritage.
A liberating education helps students develop the capacity to check assumptions and to understand the value-laden choices that await them as consumers, decision makers, and arbiters of ethical choices at home, at work, and at the ballot box.
With these thoughts as background, I offered nine suggestions for pursuing a college education. These lessons are important reminders to share with prospective students and undergraduates on any college campus.
1. Learn history and historical analysis. History is about what came before, whether in politics, science and technology, or literature and cultural patterns. History helps us understand context, including precedents, considerations, and consequences.
2. Be inquisitive. Ask questions. Remember to ask about the questions hidden by answers and the problems hidden by solutions. One of my maxims is to say, “That is an answer, what is the question?” People often do not consider the question or the problem before offering an answer or a solution.
3. Develop your imagination. While some think of ours as the “Information Age,” I think of it as the “Imagination Age.” With imagination, students gain the confidence needed to take initiative, solve problems, and formulate ideas.
It is through literature, drama, poetry, and other arts that we develop the capacities to wonder and to form new ideas, new images, and new concepts so important to living a full life as well as for earning a living.
4. Show respect for others, no matter how similar or different they are from you. This was driven home to me when I attended a camp as a nine-year-old. Throughout the grounds were small signs that said simply, “Others.” We were taught that they meant “Welcome Others,” “Be Kind to Others,” “Respect Others.” Our lives are enriched by others. We should be open-minded but not gullible.
We also should show respect for expertise. An important but often overlooked source of expertise is what we call “local knowledge,” that is, the knowledge possessed by those who execute the policies of higher authorities. These people know the obstacles encountered and often have good ideas for better implementation.
5. Equity is an important value. I believe we should promote diversity as a virtue, equity as a value, and inclusion as a goal. After all, it is said that variety is the spice of life.
We should remember that however segregated our neighborhoods are, we likely will find ourselves with supervisors, supervisees, neighbors, or fellow committee members of different ethnic, racial, national, or religious backgrounds.
6. Be compassionate. In my view, it is not enough to be sympathetic, which means, “I am sorry for your pain.” It also is not enough to be empathetic, which means, “I understand or feel your pain.” I believe we should be compassionate, which means that we are sorry, we understand, and we want to do something about the pain.
7. Be reflective. Think about what you can learn from an experience, an incident, a book, a lecture. Be an active listener and thinker who reflects on experiences and ideas, asking, “What can I learn from this?”
8. Be bold. Being bold does not mean being reckless. I follow the advice of a mentor who said, “Secure your footing before you reach. This is good advice for making decisions as well as for mountain climbing.”
9. Be engaged. Participate in clubs, sports, spiritual activities, and volunteer work. Be part of the community. Give of yourself and find growth. Be sure to register and vote. Your vote is an act of choice and an exercise of voice.
These nine principles can serve as a roadmap for higher education professionals committed to guiding students toward meaningful and successful college experiences and preparing them for the life that will follow.
