Be the Missing Piece

In fall 2020, the Arts & Sciences Collaborative (now known as The Liberal Arts Collaborative) brought the campus community together to create the “Be the Missing Piece” murals–ten (10) puzzle pieces that depict the essential skills students gain by studying the arts, humanities, and sciences. The World Economic Forum identified these skills as their Top Ten Job Skills for 2020 in its Future of Jobs Report. The murals were first on display in the Todd Art Gallery (photographs below) and have continued to be on display as a pop-up exhibit across campus. During Summer 2021, the murals were on display in the Student Union (STU) for new MTSU students who were attending CUSTOMS. In Fall 2021, the pieces moved to the Liz and Creighton Rhea Atrium in the Science Building (SCI). 

Cognitive Flexibility: Adjusting one’s thinking from old situations to new situations as well as overcoming responses or thinking that has become habitual and adapt to new situations

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Coordinating With Others: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Creativity: Combining ideas in unique ways or making connections between disparate ideas; exploring different lines of thought; viewing situations from multiple perspectives; brainstorming multiple approaches/solutions.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Emotional Intelligence: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

 Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

 People Management: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. 

 Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. 

The Arts & Sciences Collaborative was a partnership between: