Middlebury College
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION TOWARDS A GREATER GOOD
Changemaker Campus since Fall 2011
Recognized for over two centuries as one of the top liberal arts colleges in USA, Middlebury’s mission consists of educating the American most promising minds with an eye toward the world beyond its gates, ensuring that their students leave with the tools to be passionate innovators and conscientious entrepreneurs.
With a very strong expertise on cultural and language fluency and environmental studies, Middlebury presents its students with hands-on learning experiences that cultivate their ability to address complex global challenges. Jon Isham, professor of Economics and Change Leader in Middlebury College further explains: “We are a unique liberal arts college, with a long history of developing and supporting new educational resources to prepare students for meaningful social entrepreneurship. And two of our central strengths, led by student interest – environmental and international studies – are central to so many of the challenges that this generation of students is eager to confront. ”
Spotlight on MiddCORE curriculum
As a Changemaker Campus, Middlebury encourages an environment in which students exercise creativity, pursue innovation, and become more comfortable with intellectual risk-taking. One of the most impressive programs that move students out of their comfort zones is the MiddCORE, an intense interdisciplinary curriculum that provides students with real-word challenges and interaction with experienced mentors. These challenges leverage the development of leadership, decision making and problem solving skills in a very interactive environment. The curriculum is tied into Middleburry’s “Next Big Idea Competition”, where students develop social innovations to help local communities and/or nonprofit organizations. President Ronald D. Liebowitz says “We understand that there is simply no substitute for practical learning. MidCORE offers precisely that kind of hands-on, collaborative, and demanding experience – giving students confidence for their road ahead”.
