Communication, Communication, Communication: The Three Rules of Large-Group Planning

Academe has traditionally tended to polarize college employees into two camps: (1) the faculty, who educate; and (2) the staff, who provide services and entertainment. At Colby-Sawyer College, a small private liberal arts institution of 950 students in rural New Hampshire, the us-versus-them mentality was rejected in order to re-envision its liberal education program. The process has resulted in a more integrated learning environment in which faculty and staff are partners in student learning. In this article, the authors outline the collaborative process in which they engaged and the effects of developing an across-the-college liberal education program that integrates learning and teaching both inside and outside the classroom.