An excellent liberal-arts college protects both free speech and academic freedom. Any topic, however controversial, may be discussed freely, openly, and without prejudice there. Courses at an excellent liberal-arts college are taught by faculty members, not by students, graduate or undergraduate. Faculty members also assess and correct students' academic work and advise them on matters of curriculum. The courses are quite rigorous.
Standards are high.
Faculty members clearly distinguish good work from poor work and do not accept light excuses for the latter. Commercial advertising is neither visible nor audible anywhere on campus. The grounds are beautiful and well cared for. Classrooms contain the equipment needed for lectures, discussions, demonstrations, performances, and laboratory work, as appropriate to the classes taught in them. Each faculty member has an office, comfortably appointed and large enough for meetings with students.