Gardner to Help Celebrate 20th Anniversary of University Studies Program

Sept. 30 will mark the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of the University Studies Program at Southeast Missouri State University.

In recognition of this milestone, the School of University Studies and Academic Information Services will celebrate 20 years of Southeast's nationally recognized liberal education program with events throughout the academic year.

Dr. John Gardner, executive director of the Policy Center on the First Year of College and nationally recognized expert on general education, will participate in the celebration by presenting a keynote address at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the University Center Ballroom. Gardner, who delivered one of the inaugural addresses 20 years ago when the program began, will reminisce about the initiation of the program, but more importantly will talk about the value of a liberal education and where Southeast is today in this regard. His address is open to students, staff, faculty and the community.

Gardner also will present a session for faculty on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at noon in Glenn Auditorium of Dempster Hall.

"Southeast believes in the value of a liberal education -- liberal meaning the freedom to choose, the freedom to think, the freedom to be free of the constraints of ignorance," said Dr. David Starrett, dean of the School of University Studies and Academic Information Services. "To fulfill our promise to students that they will graduate as truly educated individuals, we provide students access to a liberal education through the nationally recognized University Studies program."

The University Studies program is delivered through 51 credits hours that span a freshman seminar, through the breadth requirements of the core, through upper-level interdisciplinary courses, and finally with a senior seminar.

"This program has been in place 20 years," Starrett said. "Over this time, it has served thousands of students and helped them graduate from Southeast as educated persons able to live and function responsibly in the global community into which they emerge."