The Future of Higher Education

Josh Brumberg, President of the CUNY Graduate Center, welcomes attendees to a timely discussion on the future of higher education. He highlights the Graduate Center's role as a major research-intensive public graduate school and praises the Futures Initiative for its decade of leadership in advancing equity and innovation. The event also celebrates Cathy Davidson, founder of the Futures Initiative, for her vision and contributions.

Shelly Eversley, incoming director of the Futures Initiative, acknowledges the extreme pressures facing higher education, including defunding of public institutions and a hostile environment towards the arts, humanities, and sciences. She poses the question to the panel: how can disciplines work together to defend knowledge, research, and critical understanding, and what kind of university are we fighting for?

President Nancy Cantor emphasizes working with communities to demonstrate the critical importance of arts and humanities to human health and well-being. She advocates for creating a 'two-way street' of co-production of solutions between academia and the public. Cathy Davidson adds the importance of storytelling, highlighting that the public often believes in higher education's value for their own children. Bill Kelly stresses making universities 'indispensable' to the public through visible contributions.

Shelly Lowe distinguishes between allies (who support when convenient) and comrades (who fight when it's hard), questioning whether institutional leaders exhibit enough courage or are merely allies. She emphasizes communication and making the public aware of the impact of academic work. Maurice Wallace adds that comrades are accountable and committed to the labor, suggesting that perhaps universities have not been 'comrade enough' to communities.

The discussion shifts to academic freedom, a critical aspect of higher education that is currently under threat. Nancy Cantor strongly criticizes institutional neutrality as contradictory to academic freedom, asserting the right to critically examine global issues without needing 'balance' for inherently oppressive topics. Bill Kelly supports this perspective, citing the distinction between institutional neutrality and restraint. Maurice Wallace likens academic freedom to civil disobedience, acknowledging that its practice may come at a cost.

Shelly Lowe connects academic freedom to the political landscape, stressing the importance of supporting democracy and voting to ensure an environment conducive to academic inquiry. Cathy Davidson shares inspiring stories of resistance, like 'Hillmantok University' on TikTok, where professors offer free lessons in banned subjects, demonstrating resilience and alternative ways of delivering education. The panel concludes by emphasizing that in times of crisis, imagination and collaboration are key for higher education to endure and thrive, moving beyond a competitive ecosystem to work together for shared missions.