Academic Leaders to Address Futures of Higher Education

April 21, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Academic leaders to address "Futures of Higher Education" at May 9 panel discussion

The chief academic officers of three research universities will convene to discuss academic freedom, affirmative action, diversity and the changing public role of the university from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Place Dr. in Chicago. The event, titled "Futures of Higher Education," is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

The University of Chicago's Graham School of General Studies is sponsoring the event to inaugurate a series of seminars and colloquia on major issues facing higher education while drawing upon the experience and insights of university provosts and chancellors.

The issues addressed will range from the controversial, such as the recent debate over admission policies at the University of Michigan Law School, to the obscure, like quarrels over intellectual property in information technology and other rapidly changing areas that likely will have a deep impact on institutions of higher education.

The May 9 event's speakers and topics are as follows:

Geoffrey Stone, the Harry Kalven Jr. Distinguished Service Professor in the Law School and former Provost at the University of Chicago, "Diversity, Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court."

Jonathan Cole, provost and dean of faculties and the John Mitchell Mason professor at Columbia University, "Defending the Idea of the University in Troubled Times."

Nancy Cantor, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "The University as a Public Good."

Each of the speakers will present 30-minute talks, followed by a question-and-answer period moderated by University of Chicago Provost Richard Saller.