On Oct. 14 the president’s office hosted an open forum for all faculty and students to listen to the potential provost speak. Applications have been received, and the forum was a chance for faculty to respond to the candidate.
George Hynd, the potential provost candidate, is the current senior provost director at Arizona State University and has won numerous awards in the psychology field.
Hynd spoke to the forum about the evolution of the liberal arts college and changes in the past decade.
“[There has been] a gradual change into a more complex and better form,” Hynd said of the changing education in liberal arts colleges. “Evolutionary change is inherent in higher education.”
Hynd said that liberal arts colleges are dwindling in number.
“Out of 212 liberal arts colleges in the United States in 1990, only 137 still exist today,” Hynd said. “They are disappearing from the landscape, and professional focused colleges are taking their place.”
Institutions and degrees are becoming increasingly complex, said Hynd, and several threats to the liberal arts college have arisen.
“[There are] several concurrent trends,” Hynd said. “Increased reliance on part-time lecturers, demand for a more efficient post-secondary education and competition from abroad.”
Hynd said that competition from overseas is a major problem for liberal arts education in America.
“Foreign enrollments have doubled in the United Kingdom, and only 20 of the 50 top-ranked colleges in the world are in the United States, and 10 of them are private.”
Hynd stressed the importance of a college degree, and specifically a liberal arts education.
“When a diploma is received, there is a supplement attached and learning outcomes,” Hynd said. “Liberal arts schools produce more students who go to graduate school and obtain Ph.Ds.”
The benefits of closely working with teachers and professors are useful to students in a liberal arts education, Hynd said.
“Small classes and more personal interactions, and cross training in humanities and arts are beneficial to students,” Hynd said. “Intellectual rigor can impact real world experience.”
Hynd said that professors need to translate ideas into action and actively engage their students.
“[Professors need to practice] a commitment to engagement and provide opportunities for students to connect and explore in a safe environment,” Hynd said. “Reflection, analysis and integration of ideas are key.”
Focusing on the “lifeblood” of the College is important for professors to involve their students with, Hynd said.
“With the experience of a college student, it is always necessary for adequate field experience and a degree awarded by the department or school,” Hynd said.
Students are in college to prepare for a future career and a spot in the real world with the help of their professors, Hynd said.
“[Students should have] a better understanding of their place in the global community by expanding their international experience,” Hynd said. “An appreciation that all things are possible is close to our hearts as faculty.”
At the closing of his speech, there was an opportunity for questions. Brian McGee, communication department chair, wondered what Hynd’s response was to College of Charleston as a liberal arts “college” as opposed to a university.
“We have a clear understanding [of our College as a liberal arts college], or an exercise in marketing as the standard,” McGee said.
Hynd said the name will probably still be used, even through external changes.
“‘College’ will remain the same as it responds to social and economic leadership,” Hynd said. “It is up to faculty and leadership, change through growing and expanding is not always bad.”
Hynd also addressed how the College should continue to prosper through financial troubles.
“[The College] is undervalued, unappreciated and unsupported,” Hynd said. “In tough economic times, it is more important to have strategic visions with the faith that the economy will turn around.”
Chris Starr, chair of the computer science department, asked Hynd how innovation is practiced where he is provost.
“It is a challenge for us,” Hynd said. “We try to generate more revenue through masters programs, entrepreneur and research funding has increased, and we have helped support expensive external programs.”
Hynd said that the key force of a liberal arts college is its students.
“Undergraduates drive most of the education in these colleges,” Hynd said.