History at liberal arts colleges is similar to, but also distinct from, history as taught at other institutions, and involves a high level of experimentation in pedagogy and curricular development. In keeping with that tradition of innovation, the theme that we are proposing, Opening the Gates, would encourage our colleagues at liberal arts colleges to consider how history departments in liberal arts colleges might be “opened up” to become:

• more inclusive places for a wider array of diverse students (including but not limited to students of color, first-generation students, students with special needs) who may see history as something closed to them or as a place where they are invisible;
• places of more inclusive departmental curricula and course development;
• places of more innovative pedagogical methods aimed at including and supporting a diversity of learning styles;
• places of more inclusive and supportive practices of hiring, mentoring, and retaining faculty;
• and places of connection between students and the broader world.

Finally, this series is also intended to continue to build community among historians at liberal arts colleges, share our common interests and concerns, and discuss what kind of future structures could best support and encourage a diverse, dynamic, and forward-looking liberal arts history professoriate and student body.

This session will give participants the chance to meet colleagues from other liberal arts colleges, to discuss ideas and themes from the previous sessions, and to make plans for further programming related to history at liberal arts institutions. We hope that this session will continue to be a launching point for further programming at the AHA and beyond on both the challenges and the opportunities facing liberal arts college history departments.