WHAT UNITES US

by President Ronald B. Cole ’87, Ph.D.

I have two questions for alumni and friends after enjoying this edition of the Allegheny magazine — what unites us, and what do we stand for? I’ll answer in two words: Allegheny College.

Why? Because Allegheny College enriches our lives, and this historic College continues to change the lives of students who put their trust in us to empower them through education.

How do we do this? Alumni have told me that the power of an Allegheny education includes a mix of these ingredients:

• personalized mentoring by faculty and staff,

• learning how to learn while applying critical-thinking skills across disciplines,

• developing excellent communication skills, and

• the opportunity to explore different perspectives and interests in and out of the classroom to appreciate the fullness of life.

I extend that these ingredients lead to an engaged and prosperous citizenry and are in the strands of Allegheny College’s DNA uniting us to our earliest years. For example:

• In 1829, just 14 years after our founding, the Allegheny catalogue states: “The Faculty will endeavor to habituate the mind to the investigation and acquirement of truth; to teach it how to think, to invent, and to apply all its acquisitions to some useful purpose.”

• From the 1854 catalogue: “The object of Collegiate Instruction is to bring out every power of the mind to its fullest and fairest proportions.”

• From 1936: “Allegheny believes that the finest vocational training any school can offer is a broad understanding of our social and economic order and a thorough knowledge of the laws and the science of learning.”

• Fast forward to 2001, nearly the year our current students were born: “Among other benefits, liberal arts education develops and encourages the use of the imagination, in the creative sense and for solving problems of everyday life. It enables participants to experience and enjoy life to the fullest.”

• And on the Allegheny College website today: “As an Allegheny College student, you’ll combine your interests by selecting a major in one area and a minor in another … providing perspective from the local to the global … and learn to think critically, communicate creatively, and question everything.”

Recognize the trend here? Teaching how to think, learn, and communicate, inspiring creativity and problem solving, imparting the values of serving the greater good — alumni across generations have shared with me that these factors, embedded in their academic and co-curricular experiences, set them on a path for success in life. That’s the power of an Allegheny education ringing true through time, and that’s what we stand for.

As we celebrate 210 years of delivering life-changing education, Allegheny College stands the test of time, but higher education in America today is at a tipping point. Colleges and universities are being scrutinized, at times for some fair realities — like the opaqueness of the cost of education (but with misunderstanding about the net cost of attendance), and at other times based on broad-brush assumptions or misinformation — like indoctrination of students and weak outcomes for graduates. Some of these perceptions of higher education are fueling policy decisions. We are facing congressional legislation that, if passed, will limit financial aid for our students

and impose significant new tax burdens, potentially to the tune of millions of dollars for Allegheny. Proposals on the table include increasing the rate and lowering the threshold for the endowment tax, making student scholarships and fellowships taxable, and a risk-sharing fee as part of the College Cost Reduction Act. While not aimed specifically at Allegheny, these policies would certainly bring a negative impact on us and our students. Added to this are uncertainties at this moment about the future of federal financial aid programs with proposed changes to the federal Department of Education.

Let me be clear — I’m approaching this from the perspective of policy, not politics. My job as president is to assure the vibrancy and long-term success of Allegheny College, which includes staying in tune with government policies as they affect higher education. It would be disingenuous of me not to address threats to what we do — prepare students for futures as contributors, pioneers, and leaders. The scrutiny we face started well over a decade ago fueled, in my view, by growing negative perceptions about higher education. For example, a Gallup survey in June 2023 revealed that about one-third of Americans have little or no confidence in higher education, and only 36% have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence, down from 57% in 2015. Why is this?

Higher education bears some responsibility for this loss of confidence. We excel at educating students, but have not done as well to educate the public about how colleges and universities are woven into the fabric of American life — from advances in the arts, sciences, and technology that improve quality of life to meeting critical workforce needs in all sectors of the economy and contributing to economic growth. Without top-quality, college-level education built on critical thinking and the freedom of inquiry, research, creativity, and innovation, where would we be for advances in life-saving medicine or the preparation of health professionals, teachers, artists and musicians, writers, engineers, business and political leaders, to name just a few

students with political agendas. What would we have to gain by doing so? I surmise that all of higher ed is being held accountable in some people’s minds for what they observe from a few campuses. While I can’t speak for other institutions, at Allegheny, we don’t indoctrinate; we educate. We help students learn how to think, not what to think. My view is that Allegheny must be that unstinting forum where competing perspectives are freely encountered and openly engaged, where different perspectives come to bear. Where we can debate with evidence-based reasoning and respect. Where we can disagree without being disagreeable. And it’s my expectation that we live this every day in and out of the classroom. For example, students across political ideologies should feel welcome and safe to express their points of view as part of our campus community. They should also welcome respectful challenges to their viewpoints and be able to engage in productive debate while listening to the views of others. Isn’t this an important part of learning on a college campus?

Throughout my time at Allegheny, I’ve attended panels and forums on wideranging social, political, and economic issues where participants offered clear arguments and where attendees parted ways knowing more, sometimes agreeing and, at other times, agreeing to disagree. Our academic offerings include societal topics through the ages up to the most pressing issues of the day. I've sat in on classroom discussions and guest lectures with robust and passionate debate, which I believe can lead to deep learning. An alum who graduated some years ago recently shared with me that they intentionally took classes that they knew would include topics out of their comfort zone — classes that would challenge their understanding of issues, because they believed that this was an important part of a liberal arts education. This is what

learning is all about. Not telling anyone what to think, but to go through the very joy OF thinking.

Again, higher education has work to do to regain and solidify public trust. But, rather than critics driving attacks on higher education, let’s drive solutions. I’m proud that Allegheny is leading in this work. Our Strategic Pathway, empowered by our In for Allegheny campaign, is honing our academic excellence and improving the strong outcomes of our graduates. We’re building a vibrant and inclusive campus, evaluating our pricing, and reforming our business processes to be more efficient and cost-effective while improving the quality of education. As you read in this edition of the Allegheny magazine, we are continuing our centuries-old practice of investing in education and being a part of the community and economic development of the greater Meadville region. We are advancing and expanding the value proposition of Allegheny College for the next generations of students, which in turn, is an investment in the communities and the world they will go forth to serve in any number of productive ways. We’re doing this by building on our strengths, remaining true to our “DNA,” while evolving into the 21st century.

Higher education with free exchange of ideas and inquiry, creativity, and critical thinking has contributed significantly to the American dream and the strength of our nation. Maybe the American Council on Education (ACE) sums it up best when they describe higher education as part of building America: “Our nation faces numerous challenges, such as growing economic and military competition abroad and a rapidly evolving economy that requires new ways of learning and working. The key to unlocking America’s potential lies in strengthening and utilizing our world-leading colleges and universities.”

As I write this piece and every day going forward, now more than ever, my call to action for friends and alumni is this: To stand united for Allegheny College. Help to accelerate the momentum of our Strategic Pathway that is being empowered by our In for Allegheny campaign. Invite new students to attend Allegheny. Inspire strong outcomes for our graduates. Invest in our future financially. Be “In for Allegheny,” and be bold in telling the story of your Allegheny experience and outcomes. Promote the value of Allegheny for enriching lives. Stand united as we build momentum that is grounded in what we believe — the power of education, the power of Allegheny College.