On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Princeton Uni- versity,
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, "The Uni- versity and Its Critics" 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.
"On the Accountability of Higher Education in the United States, " by
Martin Trow, deals with the critical issue of responsibility. Harold
Shapiro's essay, "University Presidents--Then and Now, " 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 "A Neglected Topic: Professional Conduct of College and University
Teachers, " to which Amy Gutmann responds in an essay entitled "How Can
Universities Teach Professional Ethics?" Oliver Fulton contributes a
cross- cultural perspective in "Unity or Fragmentation, Convergence or
Diversity: TheAcademic Profession in Comparative Perspective in the Era
of Mass Higher Education." Daniel J. Kevles's essay, "A Time for
Audacity: What the Past Has to Teach the Present about Science and the
Federal Government, " considers the historical partnership between the
scientific community and the government. In reaction, Frank Press in
"New Policies for New Times" comments on the shifting actions of major
political parties in supporting research, and Maxine Singer, in her
essay "On the Future of America's Scientific Enterprise, " surveys
opportunities and problems that have been created by recent scientific
advances.
