CUNY’s Commitment to Strengthening Humanities Education
Integrating the Humanities with Real-Life Experiences
In the Climate Justice course taught by Professor Shelly Eversley at Baruch College, students created documentaries exploring how climate issues affect them personally. When three students in the class realized they all had asthma, they decided to collaborate and produce a powerful short film about their experiences living in a place they call "Asthma Alley."
Breathing New Life into the Humanities
Eversley, a professor of English and interim chair of Baruch’s Black and Latino Studies program, developed the unique approach to engage students in a subject that can seem far removed from their everyday experiences. "They do research and collect data," she said. "But fundamentally, it’s about storytelling." Sixteen of the 22 students in the class landed internships with climate justice organizations after the course.
Transforming the Humanities
Faculty across CUNY are transforming the humanities as a vital component of a CUNY education. They are expanding the notion of what makes for a well-rounded – and marketable – college graduate and making the humanities and social sciences more inclusive for our diverse students. Importantly, they are incorporating innovative teaching methods to build new bridges between a traditional liberal arts education and the career-oriented focus that students and parents are expecting of higher ed.
A Commitment to Excellence
The humanities have long been foundational at CUNY, and they continue to flourish on our campuses. From Brooklyn College’s acclaimed creative writing MFA to the innovative language translation program at Queens College to the cultural and humanities-based programming for Latinx students at LaGuardia Community College’s Casa de las Américas, CUNY boasts many celebrated poets, including several Pulitzer Prize winners.
A Collaborative Effort
CUNY’s years-long elevation of humanities education was kickstarted by a series of grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a strong CUNY partner and a leading supporter of the arts and humanities. In 2020, we launched the Transformative Learning in the Humanities initiative, which supported 100 faculty fellows in developing teaching methods that explicitly embrace the practical value of humanities education.
Why the Humanities Matter
Higher education has long dealt with misconceptions about the relevance of humanities education. But the fact is that the societal and technological changes confronting today’s students make the humanities and social sciences more important and relevant to their futures than ever. In a knowledge-based economy, skills like critical thinking, communication, and intercultural fluency are highly valued across many career paths. Those are at the core of what humanities education provides.
Conclusion
CUNY’s commitment to strengthening humanities education has never been more critical. By fostering creative and innovative teaching methods, our faculty are equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing world. As we move forward, we will continue to prioritize the humanities, recognizing their value in shaping informed, empathetic, and critically thinking individuals who are prepared to address the complex challenges of our time.
FAQs
Q: Why is the humanities education important in today’s society?
A: The humanities provide students with skills like critical thinking, communication, and intercultural fluency, which are highly valued across many career paths.
Q: How is CUNY prioritizing the humanities education?
A: CUNY is committed to strengthening humanities education through innovative teaching methods, supporting faculty fellowships, and creating programs that integrate the humanities with real-life experiences.
Q: What kind of initiatives has CUNY launched to support the humanities?
A: CUNY has launched initiatives like the Transformative Learning in the Humanities program and the CUNY Humanities Alliance, which support faculty in developing teaching methods that explicitly embrace the practical value of humanities education.
