Dear Friend,

As another academic year begins, I’ve been thinking about a simple question:

When today’s students graduate from college, what is one thing you believe every educated person should know, understand, or be able to do?

Higher education is supposed to prepare young people for life. But what that means has become increasingly unclear.

At UATX, we believe a university should do more than prepare students for a career. It should teach them how to think clearly, engage honestly with difficult ideas, and pursue truth wherever it leads.

So I’d like to know what you think.

There’s no right or wrong answer. I’m simply interested in your perspective.

I read these responses personally, and I always appreciate hearing from members of the UATX community.

Thank you for being part of what we’re building.

Carlos Carvalho

President, University of Austin