The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is delighted to welcome the Madden Center for Value Creation at Florida Atlantic University and the Center for Great Books & Human Flourishing into the Oases of Excellence network.
Oases of Excellence are outstanding programs at colleges and universities across the country that are dedicated to educating students for informed citizenship in a free society by maintaining the highest academic standards, introducing students to the best of the foundational arts and sciences, teaching American heritage, and ensuring free inquiry into a range of intellectual viewpoints. ACTA’s Oases of Excellence network now includes over 80 programs at a wide range of institutions. The network is a forum for sharing ideas and best practices for running an independent liberal arts program and serves as a valuable resource for donors who are committed to supporting academic excellence.
The Center for Great Books & Human Flourishing at Faulkner University offers undergraduates the opportunity to engage with questions of the good life and a flourishing society through student programming, speaker events, and fellowships. It holds public lectures, hosts visiting faculty, and provides professional development opportunities for teachers. Director Jason Jewell said, “The Center for Great Books & Human Flourishing has had great success showing students and the public the essential connection between a classical liberal arts education and constructive engagement in public life. We are thrilled to receive the Oasis of Excellence designation from ACTA and look forward to a fruitful partnership.”
The Madden Center for Value Creation at Florida Atlantic University seeks to provide students with an intellectual foundation to become value creators in their communities and contribute to overall prosperity within our society. Madden Center Executive Director Siri Terjesen remarked, “In just one year, the Madden Center has launched a free certificate in value creation (currently with over 1,400 students), hosted 12 research conferences, hosted several free speech events, released a book on value creation, organized a biotech and longevity conference, offered civics training to incarcerated persons in South Florida, and hosted many state and national political leaders.” She continued, “We admire ACTA’s important work in universities across the country and are honored to be recognized for our commitment to high academic standards, free inquiry, and donor integrity.”
ACTA is proud of the work of these programs and is grateful to the faculty who make Oases of Excellence possible. ACTA President Michael Poliakoff remarked, “A strong liberal arts education has become all too rare at a time when students need it the most. These centers’ efforts to prepare students for an informed and engaged life of the mind are vital for the strength of our civil society and the health of our nation.”
A complete list of ACTA’s Oases of Excellence can be found here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gabrielle Anglin
EMAIL: ganglin@goacta.org
PHONE: (202) 798-5425
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Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
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