| AAC&U Board of Directors Issues Statement on Spellings Commission Report
AAC&U’s board of directors has released a formal statement on the final report (PDF) from the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education.The statement praises the report’s focus on expanded access, but expresses regret at missed opportunities and the commission’s undue faith in testing as the only important catalyst for change. For more information, see AAC&U's press release and the full AAC&U statement.
Call for Proposals for Core Commitments Initiative Now Online
Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility, a new AAC&U initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation, aims to revitalize the academy’s role in fostering students’ development of personal and social responsibility. AAC&U invites member institutions to apply to be part of the Core Commitments Leadership Consortium, which will include up to twenty campuses. The consortium will focus on assessing how effectively institutions are embedding personal and social responsibility as core aspects of students’ educational experiences. Visit the Core Commitments Web pages to view the full call for proposals; the application deadline is December 15, 2006. AAC&U has also invited all member college and university presidents to sign a call to action and pledge their leadership in a far-reaching reengagement with issues of ethical and civic responsibility.
Diversity and Learning Conference in Philadelphia to Explore the Future of Campus Diversity Programs
“Diversity and Learning: A Defining Moment,” an AAC&U Network for Academic Renewal conference, will be held October 19–21, 2006, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John Hope Franklin, professor emeritus of history at Duke University and the distinguished author of From Slavery to Freedom, will deliver the keynote address. Registration is now available online, and in-person registration will be available beginning on October 19 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center.
AAC&U is very grateful to the James Irvine Foundation for its significant support of the Diversity and Learning conference. We also thank Prudential Financial, Academic Search Consultation Service, and Diverse—Issues in Higher Education for their generous sponsorship of this conference.
Register Now for Chicago Conference on Faculty Work and the New Academy
“Faculty Work and the New Academy: Emerging Challenges and Evolving Roles” will be held November 9–11, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois. This AAC&U Network for Academic Renewal conference will explore changing faculty roles, responsibilities, and reward systems and will focus especially on the alignment of faculty priorities and institutional purposes. Early conference registration discounts and guestroom conference rates at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place are available through October 20.
AAC&U thanks the IDEA Center, Columbia College Chicago, and the American Psychological Association for their generous sponsorship of the conference.
Pre-meeting Symposium at Annual Meeting to Address the Politics of Accountability
AAC&U's 2007 annual meeting—“The Real Test: Liberal Education and Democracy’s Big Questions”—will be held January 17–20, 2007, in New Orleans. At the pre-meeting symposium, “The Politics of Accountability: A Real Test for Higher Education,” participants will explore, strategically and pragmatically, the key issues of accountability with national education leaders, accreditors, test designers, and peers.
Speakers include Judith Eaton of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Peter Ewell of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems; George Kuh of the National Survey of Student Engagement at Indiana University; David E. Shulenburger of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; Lee S. Shulman of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and Debra Humphreys, Terry Rhodes, and Carol Geary Schneider, all of AAC&U.
Bringing Theory to Practice Project to Host Student Conference
The Bringing Theory to Practice Project will host its second annual student conference November 10–11, 2006. The “Student Leadership and Service Conference” is designed to encourage college students to reflect on their own attitudes and leadership ability through areas of engaged learning and civic engagement. Details about the conference, including an agenda and registration information, are available online.
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Virginia Leadership Council Holds Inaugural Meeting |
As part of AAC&U’s liberal education advocacy in Virginia, the newly formed Virginia Leadership Council held its inaugural meeting on October 3. Virginia is the second pilot state in the Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) campaign. Hosted by President John Casteen of the University of Virginia, the meeting brought together a group of approximately thirty education, business, and government leaders who will be working with AAC&U on LEAP efforts in Virginia. Participants at the meeting discussed priorities for Virginia and formulated a plan of action for the next few years. A list of the council members and more information about LEAP activities can be found on the Virginia pilot state Web page.
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AAC&U Releases New Publications to Help Campuses Communicate the Importance of Liberal Education and Align Priorities and Practices |
AAC&U has released two new publications as part of the LEAP campaign. Communicating Commitment to Higher Education: A Self-Study Guide for Institutions is designed to help institutions become more intentional about aligning programs and practices with professed goals for liberal education learning outcomes. It includes questions for campus dialogues that cut across campus divisions and departments. Making the Case for Liberal Education: Responding to Challenges draws on findings from AAC&U-sponsored public opinion research conducted in 2005 and 2006. It presents a set of common challenges to the argument for liberal education’s value in today’s world and a set of responses that have proven effective with different constituents—including students, prospective students, and business leaders. These publications can be downloaded in their entirety from AAC&U’s Web site and are also available for purchase.
AAC&U Director of Programs Ross Miller Speaks at Press Briefing on Assessment
Ross Miller, director of programs in AAC&U’s Office of Quality, Curriculum, and Assessment, spoke at the release of a report published by the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media at the National Press Club on September 20. Beyond the Rankings: Measuring Learning in Higher Education, written by Gene Maeroff and supported by a grant from the Teagle Foundation, is a guide for journalists reporting on assessment in higher education. The report gathers information from diverse sources within higher education and includes references to the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education as well as several AAC&U publications. For more information about assessment, see AAC&U’s online assessment resources.
Shared Futures Institute Podcasts Now Online
Selected podcasts of plenary sessions from the Shared Futures Curriculum and Faculty Development Institute are now available online. The institute—which was held July 30–August 4 as part of AAC&U’s Shared Futures: General Education for Global Learning project—explored critical global issues from multidisciplinary perspectives.
David C. Paris Appointed as New AAC&U Senior Fellow
AAC&U has appointed David C. Paris as a new senior fellow. Paris, who formerly served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Hamilton College, will work on the LEAP campaign. He will be developing Web resources related to the importance of liberal education in the new global economy. He also will be working with Senior Fellow Robert Shoenberg on selected advocacy and campus-action efforts in Virginia, the second LEAP pilot state, and coordinating LEAP activities being planned by the U.S. military academies. For more information, see the press release announcing Paris’s appointment.
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