VideosGeneral Education
Julius Rosenwald & Booker T. Washington: The Secret of Resilience and Empowerment by Robert Woodson
Robert Woodson delivered these remarks at the 2025-2026 series of the Levy Forum […]
Report
Students & Parents | General Education
What Will They Learn? 2009
A Report on General Education Requirements at 100 of the Nation's Leading Colleges and Universities
August 1, 2009 by ACTA Download PDF Press ReleaseThis study reveals that while most colleges continue to endorse the importance of a solid general education program, many have abandoned such programs in favor of a loose set of distribution requirements. As a result of this “do-it-yourself” approach to the curriculum, students at many of our leading universities are graduating without the broad-based education they need to be informed citizens and participate successfully in the global marketplace. Each of the 100 institutions in the report was given a grade from “A” to “F,” depending on the number of core subjects it required. Only five received an “A.” Further information can be found at the companion website WhatWillTheyLearn.com.
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ACTA in the NewsGraduation Requirements
As Oklahoma leaders work to introduce three-year bachelor’s degree, concerns remain
Several initiatives underway in Oklahoma may soon make three-year bachelor’s degree programs a reality for Sooner State college students, but some observers argue that would diminish students’ learning experiences and produce graduates with a more narrow, vocational focus rather than a comprehensive education. As part of an overall higher education reform effort, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin […]
Press ReleasesCore Curriculum
Rising from an F to a B+ in ACTA’s Annual Ratings, New College of Florida’s New Core Curriculum Drives Dramatic Academic Turnaround
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) annually assesses core curricula at over 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities as part of our What Will They Learn? project. Each school is assigned a letter grade based on seven core subject areas. As one of the most significant improvements recorded this year, New College of Florida has skyrocketed from an F to a B+ rating. By achieving a B+, it comes in the top 7.5% grades nationwide, and is now the highest-graded public school in Florida.
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PRESS MENTIONS
ACTA in the NewsGeneral Education
What Will They Learn?
When parents plunk down $20, $30, $40 and maybe $50 thousand this fall for a year’s worth of college room, board and tuition, it might be relevant to ask: What will their children learn in return? The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) ask that question in their recently released publication, “What Will They […]
ACTA in the NewsGeneral Education
What Will They Learn For Your $50,000?
When parents plunk down $20, $30, $40 and maybe $50 thousand this fall for a year’s worth of college room, board and tuition, it might be relevant to ask: What will their children learn in return? The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) ask that question in their recently released publication, “What Will They […]
ACTA in the NewsGeneral Education
Shouldn't All Students Learn Economics?
The current upheavals in the financial markets have left everyone confused. But in the midst of all the confusion, one thing has become crystal clear: A free country simply must be an economically and financially literate country. Amid the waves of failing banks, roiling stock exchanges, massive government bailouts, and wildly fluctuating currency and energy […]
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