The past year or so hasn’t been the best one for higher education. Debates over affirmative action, free speech, and affordability, combined with recent cuts to the humanities, have led many to wonder what the future holds. 

Here to speak about all of this is Nicholas Dirks, former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, currently president & CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, and author of City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University. 

Dirks argues that we certainly need structural change. Even more important is that colleges and universities return to their core functions: the pursuit of free inquiry, reasoning about fundamental human values, and training future generations of engaged citizens. 

For further reading: 

• Zena Hitz on why we need the humanities
• Nancy Dallavalle on whether Catholic colleges have a future
• Our recent editorial on affirmative action and affordability