In a newly revised statement unanimously approved at a recent board of director's meeting, the Association of American Colleges and Universities reaffirmed its commitment to "Affirmative Action, Educational Excellence, and Higher Education's Civic Mission." With the statement, AAC&U's board of directors affirms its belief that diversity and inclusion are good for higher education, good for the quality of student learning, and good for the nation's democracy. The statement asserts that, "higher education can do its best work when it embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, cultural, and intellectual worlds." View the press release or the statement.

AAC&U launched Campus-Community Dialogues across the country this fall as part of the Presidents' Campaign for the Advancement of Liberal Learning (CALL). Hosting this first set of discussions were member institutions Prince George's Community College, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Trinity College (CT), Duke University, North Carolina State University, Southern Oregon University, the Association of Independent Colleges of NJ, Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, and University of Southern California. Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah also held an October campus-community conference on the future of liberal education in conjunction with the CALL, as part of the inauguration for incoming President Michael Bassis.

Speakers and participants at these dialogues discussed how colleges and universities can adequately prepare today's students for a changing world and a challenging workplace. Community members at these events attest to the value of traditional goals associated with liberal education and also want a more "hands-on" and engaged approach to student learning. Many participants argued vehemently against "narrow job training." Participating executives at technology companies from both Maryland and Texas, for instance, observed that employees with only narrow training often are ineffective workers. Participants at the events sponsored by Trinity College and North Carolina State/Duke University urged company executives to expand this dialogue to include those responsible for hiring in their companies. "Human resource offices aren't on the same page as the CEO's when it comes to education," one participant observed. Participants at the CALL dialogues also emphasized the necessity of diversity and civic engagement to enhance education. Watch for news about upcoming dialogues and Presidents' CALL events at AAC&U's Annual Meeting. For information, see Presidents' CALL, www.aacu.org/call/index.cfm.

Apply Now for SENCER Summer Institute 2003

The 3rd Annual Summer Institute sponsored by AAC&U's project, Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER), is now accepting applications. SENCER aims to improve undergraduate science education and foster civic engagement by teaching "to" basic science "through" complex public policy issues. The Institute is a five-day residential program for teams of faculty and administrators working to improve or develop SENCER approaches on their campuses. Selected institutions attend the institute at no charge and receive a grant of $3,500 to support their work. For more information and to download an application, visit SENCER Summer Institute 2003.

AAC&U, Claremont Graduate University, and the James Irvine Foundation Collaborate on Project to Evaluate Diversity Initiatives

This fall, AAC&U's Office of Education and Institutional Renewal continues its work to serve as a resource to campuses to help them assess their diversity initiatives, and to assess the impact of the Foundation's statewide funding for campus diversity initiatives. Staff conducted site visits to Stanford University and Loyola Marymount University for the Irvine Campus Diversity Initiative (CDI) Evaluation project. The CDI evaluation project is sponsored by the James Irvine Foundation and is a collaborative effort with the Claremont Graduate University. For additional information about the project, visit www.aacu.org/irvinediveval/index.cfm.

Jerry Gaff Honored for Success with PFF Initiative

Jerry Gaff concluded his work on Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) this fall and remains affiliated with AAC&U as senior scholar. Gaff was the founding director of PFF and worked in collaboration with many others for over a decade on programs to help doctoral students become better prepared teachers. Forty-three research universities have established PFF programs. Gaff's work with AAC&U was also instrumental in launching the general education revival in the 1980s, and resulted in AAC&U's classic report Integrity in the College Curriculum. Gaff also co-edited The Handbook of the Undergraduate Curriculum, worked as an academic dean at Hamline University and received an honorary degree from Saint Joseph's College this year. The summer issue of Liberal Education is devoted to PFF.

AAC&U Appoints Tamar March as Senior Fellow

AAC&U has appointed Tamar March as a senior fellow. March brings to this position more than 30 years of experience leading educational reform initiatives in a variety of higher education environments. As an AAC&U senior fellow, March will work with the Office of the President on AAC&U's initiative, the Presidents' Campaign for the Advancement of Liberal Learning. She will make use of her extensive experience and relationships as she helps AAC&U design strategies to build support for liberal learning among business and civic leaders. March most recently served as Dean of the Radcliffe Center for Educational Programs at Harvard University from fall, 1996 to summer, 2002. To see the press release on her appointment, see www.aacu.org/press_room/press_releases/tamarmarch.cfm.

Background Papers on Science and Civic Engagement Online from SENCER Project

AAC&U's Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities (SENCER) has commissioned papers that explore the connection between scientific research and public policy. These resources are designed to be used in curricular development. Two of these "SENCER Backgrounders" were released at the SENCER Summer Institute and are now available online. They include "Some Social Implications of the Molecular Biological Revolution," by Troy Duster of New York University and "HIV in Science and Society," by AAC&U Senior Fellow Richard P. Keeling. To view the papers visit http://www.aacu.org/SENCER/summerinst.cfm. (Please scroll down for a menu of papers.)

At its fall board meeting, the AAC&U board of directors voted to approve thirty four new members. These new members join the sixty-one total for the calendar year, bringing the total membership to more than 800. AAC&U welcomes its newest members, including:

For a complete list of current members, and for more information on membership, visit www.aacu.org/membership/index.cfm.

More than 600 Participants Attend Diversity
and Learning Conference

Participants gathered in St. Louis from October 24-27 to debate the future of campus diversity and global learning at the 4th AAC&U Biennial Diversity and Learning Conference organized by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Global Initiatives. This year's event, which is part of AAC&U's Network for Academic Renewal conferences, focused on the theme of "Education for a World Lived in Common." The conference included plenaries on such topics as religious diversity, the latest research on diversity and student learning outcomes, and trans-global identities, and more than 50 concurrent sessions. The James Irvine Foundation provided a $30,000 grant to aid California campus grantees to attend. AAC&U's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Global Initiatives hosted meetings of the FIPSE Global Citizenship project, the Bildner Foundation Campus Diversity Initiative, and the Mellon Foundation research project on global education in liberal arts colleges.

The National Initiative for Women in Higher Education (NIWHE) sponsored a special networking lunch, and AAC&U's Office of Education and Institutional Renewal hosted meetings of the Irvine CDI campuses in conjunction with the conference.

For more information on the 2002 Diversity & Learning meeting, see press release. Mark your calendars for 2004, when the meeting will be held in Nashville, October 21-24.

Greater Expectations:
A New Vision for Learning
as a Nation Goes to College

www.greaterexpections.org

The Courage to Question: Liberal Education in the 21st Century, AAC&U's 89th Annual Meeting will be held January 22-25, 2003, in Seattle, Washington. A pre-conference symposium, Shared Futures: Diversity, Inequality, and the Challenge of Global Citizenship is also planned. http://www.aacu.org/
meetings/annual.cfm.

General Education: Goals, Strategies, and Assessments for Powerful Learning will be held
February 27-March 1, 2003. Please visit www.aacu.org/meetings/gened2003.cfm for more information.

Learning Communities: Research Informing Practice will take place in Phoenix from April 10-12, 2003. For more information, visit www.aacu.org/meetings/lc2003.cfm.

For more information on meetings, visit www.aacu.org/meetings/index.cfm.