Roosevelt Montás Discusses the Future of College with the Chronicle of Higher Education
Professor Roosevelt Montás. Photo by Inbal Sivan
Laura Y. Chang and Arnold Chavkin Professor in Liberal Education and Civic Life Roosevelt Montás was interviewed by the Chronicle of Higher Education about why he believes general education is the future of college. “There’s a recognition that general education has not performed its civic function [to] prepare citizens to be meaningful, engaged participants in self-governance in a democratic society,” Montás said. Educational institutions now have the opportunity now to embrace a new model focused on questioning and interdisciplinary small-group discussion. “Students are hungry for this kind of serious intellectual engagement,” Montás believes. “Even if we achieve only a small portion of our ambition [of promoting general education], we would have done something great for the next generation of undergraduates.”
The Chang Chavkin Center for Liberal Arts and Civic Life is focused on the connection between liberal education and civic life. It hosts discussion-based classes and supports faculty in building general education programs for students in all disciplines. It promotes, as Montás told the Chronicle, “liberal education rooted in four principles: the study of works of major cultural significance; small, discussion-based classes; a common intellectual experience; and nondisciplinary course design and teaching."
Post Date: 07-14-2026
The Chang Chavkin Center for Liberal Arts and Civic Life is focused on the connection between liberal education and civic life. It hosts discussion-based classes and supports faculty in building general education programs for students in all disciplines. It promotes, as Montás told the Chronicle, “liberal education rooted in four principles: the study of works of major cultural significance; small, discussion-based classes; a common intellectual experience; and nondisciplinary course design and teaching."
Post Date: 07-14-2026