Vanishing Liberal Arts: The Disappearing Act of Critical Thinking

Hosts Mallory and Seth examine the critical state of liberal arts education in America and the challenges facing liberal arts programs, including declining enrollments and financial pressures. Mallory and Seth passionately advocate for a rebranding of the liberal arts to highlight their enduring value in fostering critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability in an uncertain future.Episode Highlights:Enrollify's success in audience growth and the search for a new marketing manager to propel the brand further, plus innovative hiring strategies that encourage creativity and ensure candidates' attention to detail.The pressing challenges faced by liberal arts programs, including significant declines in enrollment and faculty positions.The potential of liberal arts education in developing versatile, critical thinkers capable of navigating rapid technological advancements and changing job markets.The crucial role of marketing and communication professionals in rebranding liberal arts to highlight their contemporary relevance and value.This episode not only underscores the urgent need to reevaluate and refresh the perception of liberal arts education but also celebrates the adaptability and critical thinking skills it cultivates, advocating for a balanced approach to preparing students for the future workforce.https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-gutting-of-the-liberal-arts https://www.chronicle.com/article/humanities-on-the-cutting-room-floorhttps://www.chronicle.com/article/heres-what-happened-after-3-colleges-announced-cuts-to-the-liberal-arts
- - - -Connect With Our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodellAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Element451 is hosting the AI Engage Summit on Oct 29 and 30Register now for this free, virtual event.The future of higher ed is being redefined by the transformative power of AI. The AI Engage Summit brings together higher ed leaders, innovators, and many of your favorite Enrollify creators to explore AI’s impact on student engagement, enrollment marketing, and institutional success. Experience firsthand how AI is improving content personalization at scale, impacting strategic decision-making, and intuitively automating the mundane tasks that consume our time. The schedule is packed with real examples and case studies, so you leave knowing how to harness AI to drive meaningful change at your institution. Whether you’re looking to enhance student outcomes, optimize enrollment marketing, or simply stay ahead of the curve, the AI Engage Summit is your gateway to the next level of higher education innovation. Registration is free, save your spot today.