Why did the University of Tulsa restructure one of its most promising programs, led by an accomplished writer and philosopher? Jennifer Frey, a longtime defender of the liberal arts, posted on X that the University of Tulsa was removing her as the Dean of its Honors College and replacing her with a “director.” She also said that the program, rooted in classic books and the liberal arts tradition, would be “going in a different direction” following her firing.

It’s no secret that colleges and universities all across the country don’t value the humanities enough, but this development is particularly perplexing. Frey prefaced her announcement with a lengthy summary of the College’s achievements in the two years since it started: 

“We grew enrollment by over 500%, raised retention rates to 85%, created a standardized great books curriculum from Homer to Hannah Arendt with small, Socratic seminars[, and] revitalized study of Greek and Latin centered character and civic education throughout the college.”

She also reiterated the focus of the Honors College:

“Our vision was that education is personal formation, and liberal education the formation of free human beings and citizens, equipped with those excellent habits of mind and character necessary to lead flourishing live[s] of meaning and purpose, regardless of their career.”

A flood of confused and angry posts ensued, with people who formerly considered sending their kids to Tulsa strongly reconsidering. I reached out to both the Honors College and Frey for comment about why the administration decided to make this change but received no reply.

As of right now, then, it’s hard to say if Frey’s firing was politically motivated. It does seem fair to speculate, though, that her departure won’t be good for the Honors College or the University of Tulsa as a whole. Frey renewed public interest in both the college and the liberal arts project — no small feat to accomplish in two years.

The situation, in short, is baffling. The Honors College isn’t going away. A new interim director has been selected. It remains unclear what this “new direction” will entail. What we do know, however, is that higher education, particularly the liberal arts, is in a bind. Driven by pragmatism, colleges now prioritize enrollment numbers over student education and formation, steadily abandoning their classically informed roots. In Indiana, degree programs must meet a certain number of participants to remain. As a result, humanities majors are getting cut. In addition, a number of colleges are closing their doors forever, including many liberal arts institutions. The Kings College in downtown Manhattan shuttered its windows suddenly in 2023. Many other smaller colleges and Christian universities have met similar fates.

The logic behind these school closures is sadly in keeping with modern educational philosophy.  Students go to college to secure jobs and financial stability. If a student dares to enjoy a class for its own sake, it’s seen as an anomaly, not the norm. The liberal arts, on the other hand, is about exploring what it means to be a human being, in all its variety, strangeness, and beauty. The liberal arts is about discussing this perennial question with a stack of history’s greatest books at your side for guidance and provocation.

Recently, as I was debating whether to pursue a PhD in creative writing, a friend told me about a man he knows who got his doctorate in the humanities and went on to be a firefighter. Did he regret it? To the contrary. He was grateful for the education. He learned, grew, and deepened his knowledge and character. And now he protects his community by fighting fires. My friend’s anecdote encouraged me to pursue the PhD.

If you attend a liberal arts college only to go back to your hometown and inherit your father’s auto shop, does that make you a failure? Not by the liberal arts standards. If you came into contact with great books, grew in virtue and character, and experienced a vision of the good life, you can translate such intrinsic value into just about any life situation or career track. Whether we’re talking about Socrates, C.S. Lewis, or Jennifer Frey, the liberal arts tradition is home to some of the world’s brightest luminaries.

So, a word to the University of Tulsa: Don’t discard what young people hunger for, which is a life brimming with meaning, beauty, and truth. Embrace it. “If you build it, they will come.”