Tulane School of Liberal Arts Distinctions

As we embrace our potential to lead conversations that matter both locally and nationally, we've identified three major priorities for the School of Liberal Arts—pillars for the school's next stage of excellence.

Global Liberal Arts – Leadership for an Interconnected Age

1. Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts strives to build and expand on a global liberal arts curriculum and faculty. Our location in a major world port city underlies our great potential in this area. As we strengthen our global studies programs, enhance language education and study abroad options, and establish partnerships with educational and arts institutions outside the U.S., the School of Liberal Arts explores, engages, and capitalizes on its complex framework where local and global interact.

   • Amplify transnational connections in core programs (English, French, etc.)
   • Broaden global focus of environmental studies
   • Build area studies programs: Africana studies, Asian studies, MENA
   • Enhance language education
   • Establish global partnerships

Research University + Liberal Arts College

2. We embrace and enhance the School of Liberal Arts’ dual identity as a R1 research university and a liberal arts college. Our faculty are doing important research across many disciplines and this research is leading conversations locally and nationally on topics that matter. At the same time, we support our undergraduates meaningfully in the classroom and in their own independent research. These dual aspects of Tulane are strengths on which we will build further in material ways, increasing support for faculty and research in the liberal arts.

   • Hire, recruit, and retain top research faculty
   • Link faculty positions to strategies for leadership
   • Increase percentage of undergraduate courses taught by full-time faculty
   • Develop new and dynamic undergraduate curricula
   • Forge innovative cross-school collaborations
   • Build distinctive graduate programs

Relationship with New Orleans and the Gulf South

3. We forge a deeper relationship with New Orleans and the Gulf South that reinforces ties with the city and region, helps build on Tulane’s distinctive academic strengths, and encourages students to engage with the city. Tulane has been outward facing since its founding in 1834 and an important part of the city and region. As we explore together that powerful and sustaining relationship, we chart the next level of engagement.

   • Creative industries (music industry, museums, public history)
   • Leadership in environmental studies: strategies for addressing global climate change
   • Rethinking urban studies
   • Public policy and local and state government
   • Social Justice and Social Work
   • Deeping ties to local schools and teachers