VIEWPOINT

Liberal Arts Education and Information Technology: Time for Another Renewal Liberal arts must accommodate the powerful changes that are taking place in the way people communicate and learn

by Todd D. Kelley

hree significant societal trends and that institutional planning and deci- Five principal reasons why the future will most certainly have a broad sion making must reflect the realities of success of liberal arts colleges is tied to Timpact on information services rapidly changing information technol- their effective use of information tech- and higher education for some time to ogy. Boards of trustees and senior man- nology are: come: agement must not delay in examining • Liberal arts colleges have an obliga- • the increasing use of information how these changes in society will impact tion to prepare their students for life- technology (IT) for worldwide com- their institutions, both negatively and long learning and for the leadership munications and information cre- positively, and in embracing the idea roles they will assume when they ation, storage, and retrieval; that IT is integral to fulfilling their liberal graduate. • the continuing rapid change in the arts missions in the future. • Liberal arts colleges must demon- development, maturity, and uses of (2) To plan and support technological strate the use of the most significant information technology itself; and change effectively, their colleges must approaches to problem solving and • the growing need in society for have sufficient high-quality information communications to have emerged skilled workers who can understand services staff and must take a flexible and since the invention of the printing and take advantage of the new meth- creative approach to recruiting and press and movable type. ods of communication and informa- retaining such staff. The growing societal • Information technology can help lib- tion . need for skilled workers who can under- eral arts colleges meet their unique These trends have more serious implica- stand and take advantage of the new mission to help students connect tions for than other methods of communication and informa- ideas and disciplines broadly, think segments of higher education, but because tion management has put pressure on all critically, act responsibly, and com- of their unique mission, liberal arts colleges organizations to attract and retain skilled municate effectively. are more likely to ignore these trends and information services employees as well as • Twenty-first-century workers must be thus run a greater risk of becoming irrele- to help all employees understand the vital well prepared and confident in man- vant, obsolete, and financially unstable. role of information. aging technology and its role in all Thus I believe that it is the responsibility of (3) Information technology must segments of the economy. chief information officers at liberal arts col- become an integral part of the academic • Prospective students and their parents leges to work with their leadership to programs and the life of liberal arts col- need to understand the importance of understand three fundamental tenets leges to ensure information-literate information technology and expect it related to information technology: communities. Graduates must be able to to be integrated into the curriculum. (1) The futures of their colleges are assume appropriate roles in the informa- For these reasons, the role of informa- tied directly to the strategic use of IT tion society. tion technology at liberal arts colleges

42 EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY • Number 4 2000 must undergo a dramatic transformation thermore, using information technology grate technology appropriately into if the colleges are to remain a vital asset can help faculty, staff, and students orga- teaching and learning. This effort has to the nation and the world. While IT nize their thoughts and even improve made some noticeable differences must become integrated into virtually their thinking. already. Providing a combination of every part of institutional operations, it The more progressive liberal arts col- technology and support for integrating must also become a critical component leges include computer hardware and technology into the teaching and learn- of the educational mission. software in their regular operating budget ing process is an essential component of What are the challenges to achieving so that faculty, students, and staff have success. transformational change in this area? access to current IT without having to The interpersonal and face-to-face work at procuring these items themselves. nature of the teaching and learning enter- The Challenge of Cultivating My institution, St. Mary’s of prise is a basic value of liberal arts col- New Perspectives Maryland, has implemented a three-year leges. Unfortunately, using information A number of challenges exist in applying replacement program for hardware and technology in teaching and learning is information technology to the educa- has purchased blanket licenses for most often viewed as undermining this basic tional mission. Two in particular must be software applications. Knowing that the tenet, perhaps a key reason that faculty at addressed for IT to become part of the college has committed significant liberal arts colleges have not universally overall fabric of the institution: (1) infor- embraced IT as essential to the educa- mation technology must be viewed as an tional process. At present we do not have essential component of the teaching and accurate data to gauge how the faculties learning process, and (2) networking at liberal arts colleges perceive informa- (both institutional and technical) must A well-designed network tion technology and how they use it. At become an integral part of the institu- and server system that my institution we are beginning a sys- tional infrastructure and culture. tematic process of collecting data about is connected to the Internet the use of technology in order to better IT IS MORE THAN AN OPTIONAL is much more than understand the implications. TOOL infrastructure. A major barrier to the integration of NETWORKING IS KEY information technology in the teaching Technological advances, especially the and learning process is that many faculty rapid growth of the Internet, have con- members of liberal arts colleges still view tributed to a growing digital communi- IT as a tool to use or reject in their teach- resources to IT provides a stable technol- cations environment throughout our ing. In many disciplines, with the ogy environment and allows faculty and entire society. Barriers of time and place notable exception of sciences such as staff to feel confident about using infor- are breaking down due to the use of dig- biology, chemistry, and physics, infor- mation technology in their work. ital technology for communications of mation technology is not viewed as But the key to the successful use of IT all types. Connectivity, whether through being essential to teaching, learning, goes beyond software and hardware. wires, wireless, or satellite, is rapidly research, or expression within the disci- Scholarly success is based upon the per- becoming the most critical infrastructure pline. Hardware, software, and the data spective and the knowledge base of the component of all types of enterprises, network are often viewed as a part of the person using it. How can faculty be including government, business, and campus infrastructure—they are there if helped to understand that the computer education. you need them, but there is no impera- can be used for teaching, learning, and How the campus network is con- tive to use them. But a well-designed communicating in a variety of ways that structed, accessed, understood, and used network and server system that is con- rival or even surpass more traditional is especially key to the success of liberal nected to the Internet is much more than methods? arts colleges. In this context a network is infrastructure. It can store, retrieve, and One method for increasing under- much more than infrastructure because classify vital information and function as standing at my institution was the cre- at each moment it must reflect a diverse a synchronous or asynchronous commu- ation of instructional technologist posi- and ever-expanding range of technology nications mechanism for transmitting tions within each academic division. The choices, information access methods, text, visual, and audio information. Fur- role of these positions is to help inte- user needs and knowledge, and the

Number 4 2000 • EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY 43 perspective of the liberal arts approach be modified, and information services ber of federal contract businesses sur- to knowledge and learning. The technol- leaders such as librarians and IT staff can rounding the city. ogy per se does not matter at all if peo- help lead the way. The individuals Traditional methods of attracting and ple don’t understand the importance of charged with providing their college retaining information services staff at the network for the future good of soci- communities with all the infrastructure nonprofit institutions are insufficient in ety and its use in furthering the mission support, information resources, and ser- the current context. Job security, health and approach of a liberal arts education. vices necessary for teaching, learning, insurance, and liberal vacation benefits The communities of interest within and communication can join forces in a are no longer enough to satisfy today’s and among liberal arts colleges that collaborative way to address the chal- information services staff. These staff could and should be formed through lenges of liberal arts education together. members are looking at the bottom line, using network services are not emerging My institution has made notable gains but they also are looking at much more. nearly as quickly as they should because in this regard, but there is still much to They want to belong to an organization college faculty and leaders are not suffi- be done. One improvement involved that respects what they do, treats them ciently knowledgeable about or involved the organizational unification of all as valued team members, and gives with the many services that could be information services (including library, them an opportunity to make a differ- offered via networks. One major leap ence in the life of the organization. that could be made is for liberal arts col- They want a sense of belonging that is leges to evaluate and adopt the use of We would like other liberal founded on shared goals and interests common asynchronous instructional and a belief that information is every- software for use on their own campuses arts colleges to work with us one’s business, not just that of the infor- as well as among peer institutions. St. so that faculty can mation specialist. Mary’s College of Maryland has evalu- collaborate together in What can nonprofit institutions do as ated what is currently available and has they are expected to offer more and selected and procured the platform that teaching across institutions increasingly sophisticated information it will use. We would like other liberal with similar missions and services while simultaneously attracting arts colleges to work with us so that fac- and retaining high-quality staff? Based programs. ulty can collaborate together in teaching on my experience in this area, I believe across institutions with similar missions today’s information services profession- and programs. als are looking for the following: media, telecommunications, and admin- • symbolic recognition of their contri- Information Services istrative support) and the shift of infor- butions to the institution; Staffing Challenges mation technology from the administra- • meaningful incentives and rewards One reflection of how liberal arts col- tive vice president to the chief academic for extraordinary performance; leges view information technology is officer. This shift places information • a team-based environment where their view of information services staff technology and all information services team members can cross institutional members. Such staff members are often in the unit most critical to the college boundaries of all types and make considered service personnel who may mission. meaningful contributions; have specialized expertise that will make None of the strategic objectives dis- • flexible work arrangements, includ- things work (or not!). In the future, how- cussed thus far is sustainable if we fail to ing compressed work schedules; ever, they must be viewed as partners address the issue of attracting and • open acceptance of personal lifestyle and colleagues with problem-solving retaining outstanding information ser- choices; abilities, who can make significant con- vices employees. At St. Mary’s College • a healthy and pleasant physical tributions to both institutional opera- of Maryland, which is located in the environment; tions and strategies. Washington, D.C. corridor, the chal- • opportunities to telecommute and a Information services staff at liberal arts lenge of finding and retaining such staff family-friendly support policy; colleges too frequently are bolted on like is especially great as the competition for • opportunities to be information a sidecar attached to a cycle, but the technology-savvy employees is keen entrepreneurs within the institution unity of purpose that is needed precludes and the coffers of private business are and beyond; the bolted-on approach. This view can deep, largely due to the significant num- • support to take courses, work on

44 EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY • Number 4 2000 degrees, and take training classes to ronment successfully. Students will learn tion power at one’s fingertips, it is essen- update their skills; these skills by active engagement in tial that care and thoughtful deliberation • support to participate in conferences managing their information environment be employed in understanding and using and make presentations; while at college. Ideally, faculty will it. It is important to note that the goal is • access to the best resources and tools model this behavior and college admin- not to target professional or job oppor- to accomplish their work; and istrators will make faculty involvement a tunities for graduates through training in • an institutional commitment to em- high priority. This challenge is not as specific technology. Instead, the goal is ploy information-literate individuals. daunting as it sounds because integrating to educate students in the use of many If information services staff members information technology into the liberal emerging information technologies are offered these working conditions, arts approach can strengthen and invigo- through providing contextual experience they are less inclined to make decisions rate the core skills of liberal arts educa- that will build their confidence in dis- about where to work based solely on tion: problem solving, connecting ideas covering solutions to issues through the salary comparisons. At my institution, a and disciplines broadly, thinking criti- use of information technology. number of these working conditions have cally, acting responsibly, and communi- Many prospective students and their been supported although there is much cating effectively. parents are well aware of the importance more to be done. Early indicators suggest of information technology, and many of that we are on the right track since the them expect conveniences such as online information services organization has one One of the challenges we still registration, Internet access in the resi- of the best retention rates of any unit. dence halls, and an e-mail account. One of the challenges we still face is face is the broader issue of Unfortunately, simply adding these tech- the broader issue of institutional commit- institutional commitment to nological features to college life will not ment to employ information-literate indi- employ information-literate provide the technological foundation viduals and give them support to main- required for 21st-century students. This is tain their technology skills. This is a individuals and give them the equivalent of building a library while challenge because the organization is not support to maintain their not requiring students to read beyond a yet sure what standards of information technology skills. required text. It is a superficial approach literacy it should be looking for and what at best and window dressing at worst. premium it will have to pay for these What will truly engage students and skills. Also, existing employees do not prospective students and their parents is often know what it is they do not know Students now attending liberal arts a liberal arts college community that is and thus are not sure what it is they need colleges will graduate into a world of engaged in exploring and using informa- to learn, even when training is available. challenges and complex problems that tion technology within every dimension Another problem is that of existing will require them to use information of the academic and extracurricular pro- employees who believe that most or all technology proficiently and make grams. If this is a priority in the institu- information services issues can be best important decisions using information tion, then marketing the college to the addressed by specialists. The goal for all resources. Information technology is expectations of tomorrow’s students and employees should be to build up an ade- already critical to collecting and analyz- their parents will be relatively easy. The quate sense of confidence and ownership ing all types of information, performing marketing effort would have a broad in information services so that employees many kinds of work, and communicating appeal because it would fuse the best tra- make good judgments about when to ideas in almost every field of endeavor. ditions of liberal arts education with the consult with information services staff The value to society is not just utilitar- use of technology. Weaving information and when to take action on their own. ian, however. Information-literate citi- technology into the entire fabric of the zens are essential to maintaining a free liberal arts college and reflecting this Information Literacy: and open society. creation back to society could capture An Institutional Challenge While information literacy has always the attention of many—and even shock Liberal arts colleges must stay competi- had a role in a liberal arts education, it is those who believe that technology is tive and must prepare their students for a much more important now because of found only at larger, more highly spe- world where every individual will need the sea change brought on by informa- cialized institutions. to manage his or her information envi- tion technology. With so much informa- Information-literate citizens know that

Number 4 2000 • EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY 45 access, accuracy, and the pursuit of com- ogy into their curricula. Administrators, eral arts colleges must invent their future prehensiveness are the basis for intelli- faculty, staff, students, and members of or it will be invented for them. The lib- gent decision making. To respond effec- liberal arts college communities are eral arts college is a uniquely American tively to an ever-changing, complex beginning to own the information tech- phenomenon and it has had the environment, people need techniques for nology issue. However, enterprisewide resiliency over its long history to recre- exploring, making connections, and mak- coordination is needed for liberal arts ate itself and to incorporate the needs of ing practical use of information. They colleges to truly harness the potential of society into its agenda without rushing must know how to use information to their investments in information tech- to respond to fads.3 One reason for this their best advantage at work and in nology. Decisions about commonly successful approach has to be the mar- everyday life even as methods of infor- available and relatively mature technolo- riage of reflection and preparation. Lib- mation creation and access continue to gies can no longer be made by each indi- eral arts colleges help undergraduates evolve. They appreciate the value and vidual within the organization because reflect on the breadth and interrelated limitations of information, understanding of interoperability, support, and cost-to- nature of all knowledge while simultane- that it is not knowledge until it has been value issues. Decisions about the pro- ously preparing them to contribute to analyzed, questioned, and integrated. curement, deployment, and use of these the improvement of society through The information-literate are not only developing their thinking, leadership, able to find, analyze, and use information and communications skills. Colleges that effectively, but they must be able to create Liberal arts colleges have are able to continue this tradition using information to communicate effectively. information technology will continue They are equipped to be lifelong learners traditionally been a testing making a positive impact on the future because they know how to learn. In this ground for ideas and a well into the 22nd century. context a liberal arts education is the per- proving ground for skills that Liberal arts colleges must fuse their fect place for nurturing and developing traditional strengths with foresight to the citizens of democratic societies. Lib- are broadly applicable and look ahead for 20, 30, and even 50 years, eral arts colleges have traditionally been a beneficial to all aspects of a short period relative to their long his- testing ground for ideas and a proving tory. They must be knowledgeable society. ground for skills that are broadly applica- about, and take advantage of, the large- ble and beneficial to all aspects of society. scale trends in the ways that people Our future leaders need a perspective communicate and learn. They need to and learning experience that enables types of technology must be enter- use all the resources at their disposal to them to use information and its tech- prisewide decisions based upon the address this issue and act decisively. nology effectively, and to adapt to needs of the organization, the direction Their core mission has always been valu- changes as they happen. Clearly, of and choices in the marketplace, and able to society. It will be even more valu- defining information literacy broadly the direct and indirect costs involved. able if they can seize the initiative and so as to constitute both a liberal as The information that is required to remake themselves for a society that is well as a technical art and turning that make wise decisions about these choices rapidly transforming itself faster than definition into a curriculum are major is considerable and requires an intimate was predicted even as little as 10 years challenges both intellectually and knowledge of both the marketplace, the ago. e practically, and deserve extended dis- needs of the organization, and the sup- cussion and collaboration among both port that is needed to make the technol- Endnotes: educators and information-systems ogy work. This perspective will help 1. J. J. Shapiro and S. K. Hughes, “Information Lit- eracy as a Liberal Art: Enlightenment Proposals professionals, humanists, and com- information technology develop into a for a New Curriculum,” Educom Review, March/ puter and information scientists.1 more mature element of liberal arts col- April 1996, pp. 31–35. 2. See http://www.smalltalk.org/alankay.html. leges, many of which have a long history 3. F. Rudolph, The American College and : A Conclusion of remaking themselves to meet the needs History (New York: Vintage Books, 1962). Liberal arts colleges have made signifi- of society while keeping their core values. cant strides toward integrating informa- Alan Kay, a pioneer in information Todd D. Kelley ([email protected]) is associate tion technology in recent years. Faculty technology, once said that the best way provost for information services at St. Mary’s College of are incorporating information technol- to predict the future is to invent it.2 Lib- Maryland, a public liberal arts college.

46 EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY • Number 4 2000