If we named the purposes of college, chief among them would be ideas surrounding the transfer of knowledge and content delivery. This is accurate but incomplete. A more exhaustive list of college goals would also include growth and transformation. Change happens all around, and within, us constantly. Some shifts we notice, like the subtle wrinkles around our eyes or the changing colors of the leaves, while others are less perceptible but can result in enormous impact. Since change is inevitable—we continually develop and adapt—transformation becomes one of the main purposes of college, where we challenge our students’ existing perspectives so they might mature into the next stage of adulthood. Rather than leaving this change to chance, we must move beyond content delivery to intentionally guide students through transformative learning experiences that challenge their schemas and shape new ways of thinking, acting, and becoming.
