LEAP & MCLA

Institutional Level Learning

In support of our role as the Commonwealth's public's liberal arts college, Massachusetts Liberal Arts College (MCLA) adopted the Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) goals of the Association of America Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in 2008. The LEAP goals, summarized below, are infused throughout the curriculum and in co-curricular programs.

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World Institutional Level Outcomes

Through study in the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts
Focused by engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring

Intellectual and Practical Skills, including

  • Inquiry and analysis
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Written and oral communication
  • Quantitative literacy
  • Information literacy

Teamwork and problem solving

Practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects, and standards for performance

Personal and Social Responsibility, including

  • Civic knowledge and engagement-local and global
  • Intercultural knowledge and competence
  • Ethical reasoning and action


Foundations and skills for lifelong learning

Anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges

Integrative and Applied Learning, including

  • Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies
  • Demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems