Introduction to Our Fall 2010 Author in Residence, Jonathan R. Cole

On Monday, our Fall 2010 Author in Residence will begin to post about issues in higher education that arise from his book, The Great American University. Jonathan Cole is best known for his fourteen years (1989-2003) as Columbia's provost, holding the position for the second-longest tenure in the university's 250-year history. During his career in higher education, which includes having the role of dean of faculties and vice president for the arts and sciences at Columbia, he has gained great insight into the important role the university plays in American culture.

The themes from his book that are planned for discussion are: the crucial role a strong university system plays to national prosperity and security, the role of universities in bringing social issues and discourse to the forefront, the future of government/industry/university partnerships, and how best to move forward from the anti-intellectualism of the 2000's and position U.S. universities for continued global pre-eminence.

These are serious topics that impact the careers of all in higher education, and we look forward to reading what you have to say about these topics.

In the meantime, here is a portion of what The Economist magazine had to say about The Great American University.

The real dangers facing America's most important universities
Jan 7th 2010
From The Economist print edition

WHAT do the following have in common: the bar code, congestion charging, the cervical Pap smear and the internet? All emerged from work done at America's pre-eminent research universities. The central contention of Jonathan Cole's book is that these mighty institutions are "creative machines unlike any other that we have known in our history." They stand at the centre of America's intellectual and technological global leadership, but are now under threat as never before.

Professor Cole has worked all his life at one of these institutions, Columbia, where he was provost for 14 years from 1989 until 2003. His book is really three, each a magisterial work. First, he sets out an admirably comprehensive history of how America's great universities came into being. Then, he trawls for examples of the enriching inventiveness of these institutions, listing the extraordinary range of innovations in technology and in thinking that have sprung from their research. Finally, he outlines the forces that threaten America's research universities.

Read more at http://www.economist.com/printedition (subscription required).