Elizabethtown College is off to a great start being placed on the top 100 list of liberal arts colleges. This is an excellent accomplishment for Etown, and the school has been virtuous and willing to adapt to change. These actions are just some of the reasons that Etown is being recognized on the list.
Liberal arts curriculum and the standard college courses differ. Liberal arts colleges teach a wide range of skills, such as research, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, writing, communication, lab research and internships as opposed to concentrating on just one field or skill. Being a student here at Etown, I can confidently concur that a liberal arts education has been very crucial to my educational experience and I feel as if I am receiving a well-rounded education. This type of learning will set me apart in a positive light in the following years of my education and further my professional career.
The second section of this paper, which will be published soon, sheds light on the major sources and sociohistorical settings that have influenced perceptions of the liberal education idea over time, from its creation to the present day. Over the course of the past week, I spent time interviewing some students on campus and their thoughts about Etown being on the top 100 liberal arts college list.
The first student I interviewed was first-year occupational therapy major Emily Hanson. She said, “When I hear that Etown is [i]n the top 100 liberal arts colleges, I feel good about it. It makes me feel like I go to a successful college.” I asked her what aspects she thinks Etown has to place them on the top 100 list. She stated, “Etown has things that they have on campus the students actually like to attend to, as well as the relationship that students are able to create with their professors and just being able to be comfortable with the environment.”
Although this is just Hanson’s response, over the past year of talking to people that attend Etown, it has been a topic that comes up in conversation naturally. Hanson also mentioned she thinks that the recent development will bring more uprising and changes to the school.
I also sat down with first-year Hannah Beckman and asked her a series of similar questions. Beckman said, “I feel that [the] College is making a big effort into getting their name out there. I feel as though I am receiving more than my money’s worth and am receiving a good education.” She added, “Etown has quite a few aspects that place the school on the list, such as student-to-faculty ratio and being able to create strong relationships with professors.” I asked Beckman how she thinks the recent development will change the school. She responded, “I think that now that Etown is on the top 100 list, they will want to continue to get higher on the list and possibly even add more courses and better athletics to reach the goal that was talked about turning the college into a university.”
Finally, I spent time with junior Bryce Keller. When I first asked Keller his feelings that Etown is on top 100 list, he responded, “I would say that, wow, it is surprising, but also I can see that as well.” He stated he feels proud that he got to go to a college that was placed on the top 100 list. Keller also added that he thinks our motto, “Educate for Service,” is something that sets us apart from other liberal arts colleges. Additionally, he feels as though he is able to give back to the community through attending Etown. After shedding light on this accomplishment, Etown has done an exceptional job at showcasing the “Educate for Service” motto through the lens of the liberal arts.
