Whitehead participates in COPLAC Legislative Breakfast on Capitol Hill
Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kim Whitehead joined members of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) to discuss the mission and impact of public liberal arts institutions during the COPLAC Legislative Breakfast on Jan. 22 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
“Data continues to demonstrate that graduates of liberal arts colleges in the U.S. fare well financially in the labor force over the longer term,” Whitehead said. “As members of COPLAC, we want to share the story and data of our institutions and how they contribute to a thriving society.”
Whitehead, along with panelists Trisha Folds-Bennett of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise; Katie Gantz of St. Mary’s College of Maryland; Karen Moranski of the CSU San Francisco Bay Region Network; and Niti Pandey of Eastern Connecticut State University, presented a session titled “Thinking Consortially: An Overview of a Values-Based Collaborative Culture.”
As a panelist, Whitehead highlighted the impact of public liberal arts institutions as demonstrated in Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce’s 2020 report, “ROI of Liberal Arts Colleges: Value Adds Up Over Time,” which showed that liberal arts colleges have the third highest 40-year ROI among 14 different types of four-year institutions. She said the findings show that the broad set of durable skills students gain through a liberal arts education — including curiosity, critical thinking, communication and quantitative reasoning — prepare them to be adaptable in a dynamic workforce.
The breakfast also featured James Birge of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and COPLAC president; Rep. Andrea Salinas of Oregon’s 6th District; Grace Carlos, an Eastern Connecticut State University alumna, Class of 2023; Adam McAninley of the University of Mary Washington, Class of 2027; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who delivered remarks via video.
“Smaller class sizes, personal relationships with professors, strong support services, more access to experiential learning opportunities and dedicated alumni networks are just a few of the other aspects of the liberal arts college experience that make a difference for our graduates,” Whitehead said during the presentation.
COPLAC Executive Director Jeanine Went also introduced a shared COPLAC video highlighting the enduring value of public liberal arts education and its impact on alumni.
The COPLAC’s 2026 Southeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Conference will be held on The W’s campus April 17-18. Students from COPLAC institutions in the region are invited to submit proposals for posters, oral presentations, and creative activity (creative writing, musical performance, etc.). Each participating campus is invited to bring students to make up to ten presentations.
In 2027, The W will also host the COPLAC Summer Summit. At this annual event, institution leaders from across from across the consortium learn of local initiatives, create networks and pursue collaborative approaches to issues.
COPLAC is a consortium of more than 25 campuses across the United States and Canada that emphasize residential, place-based education in the liberal arts and sciences tradition, with a focus on access and responsiveness to the workforce and educational needs of their states.