AI and Liberal Arts: A Dynamic Duo for Success

Why research at a liberal arts college

Recent advances to artificial intelligence heighten the value proposition for a liberal arts college education. But while many international students are familiar with a university system, they are less accustomed to the liberal arts college model, which took root in the U.S in the 19 th century. A main tenet is that students need both depth and breadth in their education, since their futures are not always linear or predictable. Teaching a skill set that enables versatility and adaptability will serve a student best for their professional futures.

Consulting directly with artificial intelligence, ChatGPT has some of it right. When prompted to identify the differences between the two types of institutions, it is noted that liberal arts colleges:

1. "Primarily focus on undergraduate education and offer a well-rounded curriculum that emphasizes the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences."
2. "Often have smaller class sizes and a strong emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and discussion-based learning."
3. "More opportunities for close interaction with professors, mentoring, and collaborative learning."

Some universities, according to ChatGPT

1. "May have multiple campuses, a larger student body, and a more diverse array of academic programs."
2. "Offer a wide range of degrees, including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees across various disciplines."

ChatGPT doesn't get it all right, though. It's relative assertion that “universities often place a significant emphasis on research, with faculty members expected to contribute to their fields through research, publication, and scholarly activities.”

This is one of the biggest unknowns about the U.S. higher education system. Research is just as vital at liberal arts colleges as at universities. Some of the preeminent liberal arts colleges, including Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y., follow a scholar-teacher model. Professors are leaders in their fields, at the forefront of the research, publications and scholarly activities referenced above. The key distinction is that, at a liberal arts college, they are charged with bringing that knowledge and those experiences to their classrooms (consisting of only undergraduate students), and encouraged to involve students in this research, as soon as their first or second year of college. It is an important distinction of a liberal arts college, and a competitive advantage for students to get involved in that level of research to build a resume for their future endeavors.

While the strength to the liberal arts model is the range of offerings, it is the depth that is the underrated critical feature. Chat GPT is not alone in setting up the college search as a binary function, i.e. do you want a research or a teaching specific focus? Liberal arts colleges are more about a both/and orientation v. that of either/or. They can be an ideal choice for someone who wants to do research, while being mentored and taught by a leader in that field.

Here are two students from India who highlight these liberal arts connections

Ashlesha Bhagat, a sophomore at Union College majoring in computer science, quickly assumed the role of Collaborative Robotics and Computer Human Empirical Testing (CROCHET) Lab Manager. She facilitated human-computer interaction projects and networked with engineering students. Through a summer research fellowship, she honed her skills and broadened her network as the treasurer of the Association of Computer Machinery-Women (ACM-W) chapter. Her accomplishments within a year underscore the untapped potential for the future.

Meesha Gupta, a 2021 electrical engineering and mathematics graduate from Union College, exemplified leadership through her roles with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) club and other projects, including one focused on 3D printing prosthetics for children in need. A paid summer research project in signal processing laid the foundation for her senior thesis, while her involvement with the Admissions Office enhanced her communication and professional skills. Meesha's career at Morningstar, an investment research company based in Chicago, I.L., reflects the fusion of technical and soft skills, cultivated through her STEM and liberal arts education. Meesha credits “the exploratory mindset I gained at Union” as the launch pad of her career at the intersection of finance and technology.

Ashlesha and Meesha are just two examples of the types of students who can thrive at a liberal arts college. Artificial intelligence grows every day; perhaps soon it will catch up to the full potential of the liberal arts college model!