TWO-YEAR COLLEGES TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE HUMANITIES STUDY - Convention Report

Sep 28, 2026

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Two-year colleges have adopted a policy recommendation to strengthen humanities study across associate degree pathways. Approved at the AACJC annual convention, the statement calls for minimum humanities credits for applied science, science, and associate of arts degrees. The move responds to declining humanities enrollment as students favor technical coursework, and is framed as necessary for creating well-rounded graduates. Multiple educators cite curriculum initiatives, faculty development, and cross-discipline approaches, while noting concerns and supporting collaborative implementation.

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TWO-YEAR COLLEGES TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE HUMANITIES STUDY

Convention Report

Vo1。14,No。74 Thursday,Apr1117,1986 # TWO-YEAR COLLEGES TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE HUMANITIES STUDY ORLANDO,Fla.--After more than a year of consideration and revision,the na-tion's two-year institutions have adopted a recommendation that study of thehumanities be required for every degree offered at the community college level. Approved this week at the American Association of Community and Junior Col-leges'(AACJC)annual convention here,the group's policy statement recommendsthat all two-year colleges require a minimum of six humanities credits fromcandidates for an associate degree in applied science,a minimum of nine such credits from candidates for an associate degree inscience and at least 12 humanities credits fromassociate of arts degree candidates. Convention- Report Humanities enrollment at two-year institutions hasdropped in recent years,as many students opt for strictly technical course-work.A panel of experts,speaking at an AACJC forum,found that trenddisturbing. "If this is a college giving a college degree,it should have something of thehumanities in its requirements,"said Arthur Cohen,president of the Universityof California at Los Angeles's Center for Community College Studies.AACJC'sstatement,he explained,"grew out of the despair [in seeing that]a decline inthe humanities has not bottomed out." Judith Eaton,president of the Community College of Philadelphia and formerAACJC chairwoman,said the humanities statement is both a reaffirmation of com-mitment to the humanities and a set of suggestions for institutions to consid-er.It is not,she said,a list of hard and fast requirements foraccreditation. # Reclaiming A LegacySome institutions have been vigilant in shoring uptheir humanities curricula.Kirkwood Community College in Iowa,for example,was cited as doing so in Education Secretary William Bennett's National Endow-ment for the Humanities report,"To Reclaim a Legacy"(HED,Nov.26,1984)。 The report,released during Bennett's tenure as NEH chairman,said the nation'scolleges and universities generally have failed to give students “an adequateeducation in the culture and civilization of which they are members." Rhonda Kekke,professor of speech and communications at Kirkwood,said the in-stitution's increased interest in the humanities dates back to 1979,when agroup of 12 faculty and three administrators launched a study of Kirkwood'scurriculum。 "We did not like what we saw,"she said.(more) April 17,1986 # TWO-YEAR COLLEGES TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE HUMANITIES STUDY(Cont.) As a result,Kirkwood developed "encounters in humanities,"an interdisciplin-ary course to help fill the humanities gap.While the course is not required,Kekke said,it has increased student awareness of the humanities at the insti-tution.The community college also has enhanced its humanities course require-ments and improved its faculty development program,Kekke said. Believing that it may cause professors from other disciplines to push for in-creased course requirements in their areas,some two-year institutions ex-pressed some discontent with AACJC's humanities statement. However,W.J.Megginson,executive director of the Community College HumanitiesAssociation,indicated that the statement is not a radical proposal,but rathera necessary step in producing the well-rounded graduate that business and in-dustry say they want. For a community college to have a successful humanities program,Megginsonsaid,it must involve its faculty and administration in a collaborative effort.He also suggested that two-year institutions work together in developing human-ities coursework.--Bil1 Reinhard ★ ★ ★ # FEDERAL ROLE NECESSARY IN BUSINESS-HIGHER ED PARTNERSHIPS,DYMALLY SAYS ORLANDO,Fla.--Rep.Mervyn Dymally,D-Calif.,says it's high time the federalgovernment spent an adequate sum of money on promoting partnerships betweenbusinesses and higher education. Dymally,a member of the American Association of Community and Junior Col

FAQs

What policy did AACJC adopt for humanities study at two-year colleges?

AACJC adopted a recommendation requiring a minimum number of humanities credits for associate degrees, with higher requirements for applied science, science, and associate of arts programs.

Why did AACJC push for increased humanities requirements?

Humanities enrollment had dropped in recent years as many students chose strictly technical coursework, which experts considered troubling.

How did some institutions respond to the new humanities statement?

Some colleges enhanced humanities curricula and faculty development, and at Kirkwood Community College an interdisciplinary humanities course increased student awareness even though it was not required.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver