Reclaiming Relevance: Designing Liberal Arts Pathways for Purpose and Profession

How can colleges respond to skepticism about the liberal arts while preparing students for both meaningful work and civic responsibility? This panel will feature two institutions that have restructured the student experience around public-purpose liberal education. Presenters will share integrated models that align advising, career coaching, interdisciplinary learning, and civic engagement—illustrating how students can connect their values to their vocations. One institution will highlight how its learning ecosystem builds from its Common Intellectual Experience course to help students explore their future purposefully. A second institution will offer an overview of its approach to workforce readiness, including integration into its core curriculum, a four-year internship accelerator, and data from students reflecting on the applicability of study abroad learning. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for designing student pathways that meet the moment with clarity and relevance.