Split minds, split hearts: university provosts look both ways about the liberal arts. From the article:

  • Most provosts (89 percent) have a positive view of liberal arts education and agree that liberal arts education is central to undergraduate and professional education. But 71 percent of provosts strongly or somewhat agree that they “expect to see the number of liberal arts colleges decline significantly over the next five years.”
  • Almost all provosts (86 percent) agree that healthy undergraduate education requires healthy liberal arts departments (such as English); yet most (69 percent) also agree that STEM and professional programs are being prioritized by politicians and board members.

On the liberal arts, the provosts expressed strong support for the idea of liberal arts, but—as they have in past years—they did not seem optimistic about the role of liberal arts or liberal arts colleges.

Chart headed "Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about liberal arts education." Five statements and the results follow. The statements are discussed in the body of the story.

h/t Rob Townsend (@rbthisted)