Ivan Allen College to Help Co-Found Liberal Arts Network

Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and several other programs will form a network for liberal arts units embedded within technological universities following an IAC-led gathering in Atlanta. 

Liberal arts leaders from universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech traveled to Atlanta to meet with IAC Dean Amanda Murdie and Associate Dean Richard Utz to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. 

They left with a decision to form a dynamic network to explore potential areas for collaboration and advocacy. 

“I think this is our era and our time,” said Murdie. 

The group will continue to explore how they can best collaborate to further liberal arts education and research at tech-oriented schools such as their own. They plan to meet again at Georgia Tech in the Fall and at one of the other member schools again in the Spring. 

Representatives of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Tecnológico de Monterrey, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Kettering University attended. 

The wide-ranging discussions highlighted the differences in how liberal arts is presented and perceived at STEM-intensive institutions. 

“Liberal arts on a technological campus is a different experience than those lived by our colleagues at traditional institutions,” said Utz, senior associate dean for strategic initiatives, who organized the event. “This conversation brought home just how much we have to gain by working together.” 

The talks also revealed many similarities, such as innovative programs that marry tech and humanities in ways that benefit both pursuits. 

“We all have a strong story to tell about how liberal arts students at these kinds of institutions learn and most importantly what they do once they graduate. In Georgia Tech’s case, at least, that means they often go on to get a better-paying job than their peers at more traditional liberal arts programs,” said Murdie.  

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The participants highlighted the necessity of a humanistic education in a technological age, and the opportunity to serve as a cornerstone of an AI-ready workforce. 

"We need to make sure that we have a value proposition that not only resonates with students… but also meets the needs of society,” said Augustin Rayo, dean of MIT’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. "This is one of those moments in history where it's very clear the technology on itself is not enough to take us in the right direction."  

Murdie noted some of the most durable skills employers say they wish more potential employees possess include communication and critical thinking skills. 

“Those skills are coming from the liberal arts,” she said.