I’m paraphrasing Lee Iacocca in an ad for Chrysler many years ago. This week’s Pope Center Clarion Call is by Ed Jones of Belmont Abbey College and it’s about his school’s new (but really old) core curriculum. It stresses the importance of fundamental learning for all students, and compared with most other core or general-education requirements I’ve seen at other schools, Belmont Abbey’s is hard to beat. But in addition, the faculty at the school work closely with their students; that isn’t usually the case at bigger, more “prestigious” colleges and universities.
With its strong religious orientation, obviously Belmont Abbey is not ideal for everyone, but I think that it shows what other small, private colleges will need to do if they’re going to survive — ensure that students receive an education, not just a credential.