Universities and Their Leadership

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Princeton University, leading educators and commentators participated in a symposium jointly sponsored by Princeton and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Universities and Their Leadership is a collection of original essays from presenters at the Princeton Conference on Higher Education. Individually, these essays discuss aspects of contemporary higher education in the U.S. Taken together, they offer a useful perspective on issues that face American universities as they enter the twenty-first century. The opening essay, "e;The University and Its Critics"e; by Frank Rhodes, confronts criticisms of the American university, examines how universities have changed over recent decades, and suggests a plan of action to restore public confidence and strengthen bonds of community within universities. "e;On the Accountability of Higher Education in the United States,"e; by Martin Trow, deals with the critical issue of responsibility. Harold Shapiro's essay, "e;University Presidents--Then and Now,"e; blends personal insights with a historical account of changes over time in the roles of university presidents. In commenting on Shapiro's paper, Hanna Gray draws on her experiences as a university president and her training as a historian to demonstrate that university presidents have always operated under constraints. Henry Rosovsky and Inge-Lise Ameer collaborate in the essay "e;A Neglected Topic: Professional Conduct of College and University Teachers,"e; to which Amy Gutmann responds in an essay entitled "e;How Can Universities Teach Professional Ethics?"e; Oliver Fulton contributes a cross-cultural perspective in "e;Unity or Fragmentation, Convergence or Diversity: The Academic Profession in Comparative Perspective in the Era of Mass Higher Education."e; Daniel J. Kevles's essay, "e;A Time for Audacity: What the Past Has to Teach the Present about Science and the Federal Government,"e; considers the historical partnership between the scientific community and the government. In reaction, Frank Press in "e;New Policies for New Times"e; comments on the shifting actions of major political parties in supporting research, and Maxine Singer, in her essay "e;On the Future of America's Scientific Enterprise,"e; surveys opportunities and problems that have been created by recent scientific advances.