Provost initiative to envision Cornell's long-term future | Cornell Chronicle

"Undergraduate education: How should a university educate undergraduates in the face of diminished trust and significant sociotechnical change? How can universities best train today's students to become responsible citizens in a polarized world, with the capacity to debate and disagree constructively with those who hold different views? How can Cornell embrace change while retaining its commitment to the power of reading and writing, dialogue, human ingenuity and critical thought?"

"A new faculty-led committee will explore how the university can evolve to best serve future generations while pursuing its core mission of education, scholarship, public impact and community engagement. Provost Kavita Bala has charged the Committee on the Future of the American University with envisioning Cornell's long-term future, at a time when the fundamental value of higher education is being questioned."

"The committee members, recommended by their respective deans, represent a range of academic disciplines and areas of expertise. The committee will engage in discussions across campus, report on progress at the end of the fall semester and continue its exploration in spring 2026."

Provost Kavita Bala charged a faculty-led Committee on the Future of the American University to envision Cornell's long-term future amid growing skepticism about higher education. Universities face diminished public trust, a reshaping of their compact with the federal government, and rapid technological change including artificial intelligence. The committee comprises members recommended by deans across diverse disciplines, will hold campus-wide discussions, report progress at the end of the fall semester, and continue exploration into spring 2026. The committee will examine undergraduate and graduate education, civic responsibility in a polarized world, and how to balance innovation with commitments to reading, writing, dialogue, and critical thought while addressing funding pressures.

Read at Cornell Chronicle