PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

A few years ago I was in Prague at a professional meeting having dinner with the rector of a Russian university. After dinner he leaned forward to ask the burning question in his mind: "What do you think? Shall we let the students see the books?" Puzzled, I responded, "Tell me what you mean." He answered, "At our university the faculty read the books and they tell the students what is in them. If we let the students see the books, what will the faculty do?" My response brought an understanding nod: "What is in the best interest of your students?"

Higher education must never lose sight of this fundamental focus-the best interest of our students. Our purpose is to develop the potential and enrich the lives of students. A natural consequence of enriched and developed individuals is a strengthened economic and social fabric.

It is in the best interest of our students that their education provide them with a rich and diverse general education foundation and a strong disciplinary focus. To complete a university degree without experiencing the fine arts; grappling with issues of ethics, science, and morals; or understanding diverse cultures and values is to commence impoverished. On the other hand, to have only superficial disciplinary knowledge is to be unprepared for adult employment realities. A university must constantly struggle to balance and ensure the quality of both the foundation and the focus.

It is in the best interest of our students that their education focus not only on learning but on understanding how to learn and developing a love of learning. Most students will change occupations during their lifetimes, but even those who do not will still be confronted with a lifetime of dazzling newness. All will need to build a lifetime of learning on their university foundation if they are to be successful.

It is in the best interest of our students that mastery of the latest in high technology and computer use be central to their education. Whether seeking information, marketing services, or simply recreating, the successful citizens of the future will need to be technology capable.

It is in the best interest of our students that faculty understand and employ the latest pedagogical techniques and use the most effective instructional technologies. With recent growth in pedagogical theory and instructional technology, a wide range of active and interactive learning options are newly becoming available. Many of these strategies will also provide cost-effective options to traditional instruction and access for students at distributed locations. Extensive ongoing faculty development must be facilitated and fostered so that they can take advantage of these innovations and provide the best instruction possible.

It is in the best interest of our students that the university administration provide strong leadership for a university foundation so that state financial support for the university can be adequately supplemented. The president must also lead the university in maintaining effective political, community, and business relations to maximize the resources and learning opportunities available to students.

Finally, it is in the best interest of our students that dedicated caring faculty in settings of personal safety provide programs of uncompromising academic quality and integrity. Such programs can only come from the personal commitment of dedicated professionals supported by fully integrated ongoing assessment activities.