Five Disruptive Principles in the Liberal Arts

AltLiberalArts and the Novo Collegian Alliance proudly presents “Five Disruptive Principles in the Liberal Arts,” a dynamic live recording event exploring the essential values of an exceptional liberal arts education. Join us on April 1st, 2025 at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton, FL for an engaging and thought-provoking evening featuring some of the most important voices in higher education today.

Dr. Stephen Miles will present on five principles inspired by the rich legacy of New College of Florida in order to delve into the transformative practices of the liberal arts tradition. Through candid discussions and real-world insights, the event will celebrate the power of individual curiosity, responsibility, and intellectual freedom in creating a meaningful liberal arts education.

This event is part of a lecture series commissioned by AltLiberalArts to reimagine and celebrate the enduring impact of liberal arts education. The evening will revolve around the five core principles (Student Agency, Depth and Breadth, Mastery, Mutual Engagement, and Assessment for Excellence) as practiced historically at institutions such as New College and bring them to life through conversations with leading voices in the field who have written and deeply reflected on their significance.

Designed to inspire current and future educators, students, and advocates, the event highlights the ways open inquiry, personalized pathways, and intellectual freedom can empower transformative learning experiences. At a time when so many conversations around higher education focus on restricting access to ideas, narrowing curricula, and enforcing conformity, the Five Principles project pushes in the opposite direction. It calls for a return to the expansive roots of liberal arts education, when intellectual rigor, curiosity, and exploration were celebrated, not stifled.

This event is more than a presentation, it’s a celebration of higher education’s potential to foster personal growth, adaptability, and understanding. It’s a reminder that education shouldn’t be about limiting possibilities, but about broadening horizons and challenging the mind. Through the lens of five principles, we’ll explore how a truly transformative education values not just what you learn, but how you grow as an individual. It’s an invitation to reimagine education as an act of discovery, agency, and empowerment, inspiring students and educators to explore the furthest reaches of what they can achieve.

Taking place in the spacious Manatee Performing Arts Center, the evening will also feature light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, making it a memorable gathering for our liberal arts community.

Tickets for this exciting live event are available for $15 (reserved seating) or FREE with a valid student ID. Don’t miss your chance to witness this live recording, joining a larger documentary project linking these principles to a better future for liberal arts education.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply a believer in the power of learning, this is your opportunity to engage with distinguished practitioners, big ideas, and a passion for rethinking education.

Reserve your seat today and be part of the conversation!

What are the Five Principles?

• Student Agency – Education driven by individual curiosity and responsibility.

• Depth and Breadth – Learning where breadth does not defeat depth and mastery.

• Mastery – Transformational learning rooted in expertise and perseverance.

• Mutual Engagement – Partnerships between students, educators, and the greater community.

• Assessment for Excellence – Evaluating growth, not just grades, through meaningful feedback.

By purchasing a ticket, you consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded during the event. These materials may be used by AltLiberalArts for promotional, educational, or other purposes.