AAC&U officers and staff regularly travel throughout the country, and occasionally the world, to speak and consult at AAC&U member schools through seminars, institutes, and workshops as well as in more informal gatherings. AAC&U staff also regularly speak on the value of liberal education at various media and public affairs events. These meetings are an opportunity for the membership to influence the direction of AAC&U's initiatives. We look forward to seeing you the next time we are on your campus.

AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider delivered the keynote address, “Taking the Lead on What Matters in College: Liberal Education for the New Global Century,” at the University of Wisconsin's Faculty College in Richland, Wisconsin. Faculty College provides an annual opportunity for University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff to unite in concentrated study and discussion aimed at improving undergraduate teaching and learning.

Alma Clayton-Pedersen, AAC&U vice president for education and institutional renewal, facilitated a briefing May 22–23 on the University of Kentucky’s strategic planning goals that focus on diversity. The briefing was sponsored by the provost and included the deans of all of the University’s colleges and many of the department chairs.

Debra Humphreys, AAC&U vice president for communications and public affairs, will represent AAC&U in Phoenix on June 12 at one of five regional summits sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. These summits—entitled “A Test of Leadership: Committing to Advance Postsecondary Education for all Americans”—follow up on the national summit held in March 2007, which was designed to mobilize leadership for the national agenda set by the Commission on the Future of Higher Education. The Commission issued its report in September, and the AAC&U Board of Directors issued a statement commenting on its recommendations. AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider represented AAC&U at the national summit in March and at one of the other regional summits in Kansas City on June 5.

Jerry G. Gaff, senior scholar at AAC&U, received the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, on May 19. He was cited for his contribution “to the improvement of undergraduate education, the strengthening of general education programs, the preparation of future faculty, and programs dedicated to faculty development and excellence in teaching." Gaff started his academic career as a faculty member at the innovative Raymond College at Pacific (1964–67), and much of his work was done while at AAC&U since 1975.