Council on Public Liberal Arts Colleges

Recognizing the importance of liberal arts and sciences education for success in a complex global society, the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) is championing the cause of liberal arts education of superior quality in the public sector. COPLAC institutions provide students of high ability and from all backgrounds access to an outstanding liberal arts education.

As it looks toward the new century, COPLAC is planning to grow selectively in the number of member institutions it admits and to increase its visibility and influence to accomplish its four goals:

test (1) To promote nationally the values of superior undergraduate liberal education in a public college setting in order to enhance understanding among the general public of the value of moderately sized public liberal arts colleges.

(2) To communicate to state and federal policy makers the vital importance and benefits of providing students with comprehensive public higher education in the liberal arts and sciences.

(3) To work actively with member institutions to improve the quality of liberal arts and sciences education on our own campuses and achieve the goals of the organization.

(4) To support the efforts of the other institutions to achieve distinction in the liberal education of students.

Since 1987, COPLAC has exerted a disproportionately large influence across the country:
--It has commenced the national conversation on the educational policy issues of providing high quality liberal arts education in the accessible and affordable public sector.
--It has given shape and definition to the emerging sector of public liberal arts and sciences colleges, and generated high visibility for their mission through such popular publications as the Fiske Guide to Colleges and U.S. News & World Report.
--Through a new book -- The Seven Principles in Action: Improving Undergraduate Education-- as well as articles and presentations, it has defined and informed what constitutes "best practice" in the public liberal arts setting.
--By incorporating and refining those practices, it has provided an instructive "modeling" role for other colleges and universities looking to improve in similar fashion.
--And, in concert with other national higher education associations, it has become a strong voice for the indispensable role of the liberal arts and sciences -- "the arts befitting a free people" -- for enlightened American leadership in the new age of internationalism.