The Future of Higher Education

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact cosponsored a conference on issues facing higher education. Current trends are placing both fiscal and enrollment pressures on colleges and universities. Changing student demographics and issues of maintaining academic quality while ensuring access, particularly for low- and middle-income students, are being debated at campuses throughout the country. This conference examined the financing structure of higher education and trends in student populations. At the conference, models were discussed for improving the performance of the higher education sector and ensuring it can continue to provide the education, research and economic development opportunities that are closely related to sustained economic growth.

Speakers for the conference included James Duderstadt, President Emeritus, University of Michigan; Paul N. Courant, Professor of Public Policy and former Provost, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; Kenneth Gros Louis, Interim Chancellor and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Indiana University; Richard Saller, Provost University of Chicago; B. Joseph White, President, University of Illinois; Lou Anna K. Simon, President, Michigan State University; Michael McPherson, President, Spencer Foundation; Larry Issak, President, Midwestern Higher Education Compact; Richard Vedder, Professor, Ohio University; Robert Silberman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Strayer Education; and Wick Sloane, Visiting Fellow, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

The conference took place at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on Wednesday, November 2, 2005. Conference papers will be posted to the agenda as they become available.