The Knowledge Crisis
Do colleges and universities live up to their promise of an education that prepares graduates not only for the first job, but for the innovations and challenges that lie ahead? Will these graduates understand their role in addressing issues that citizens and community leaders inevitably face? Too often the answer is no, despite the bold vision to be found in college catalogues and public statements.
The knowledge crisis represents the breakdown of higher education’s promise. Employers routinely complain that college graduates are ill-prepared for the workforce. Surveys of college students and recent graduates reveal an ignorance of the institutions and history of our free society. A rigorous core curriculum can help address these problems, since poor student outcomes are due largely to the erosion of general education programs at American colleges and universities.
One recent survey found that only 42% of employers think recent graduates are proficient in oral and written communication, and fewer still, about 21%, were satisfied with graduates’ “intercultural fluency.” Recent studies have shown that many students, even graduates of elite institutions, fail to improve their critical thinking abilities while in college—the skill employers rank as their top priority in a new hire. As for civic knowledge, it is hard to imagine Americans have ever known less about their country. A 2018 national survey found that only 36% of Americans would pass the U.S. Citizenship Test.
ACTA Resources
Recent publications cover the significant knowledge gaps of college students.



Surveys
Take one of ACTA’s quizzes to test your knowledge! Full reports are included in the links to see the results and how you compare against others.