University Statements

Dear Cornell Community,

For centuries, universities have been committed to seeking truth, advancing discovery-based knowledge and creative expression, and educating future generations — all in service to society. Cornell has been dubbed the “first American university,” reflecting our founding principle of “… any person … any study,” our deep commitment to public service and outreach, and our pioneering academic and research programs.

American universities now face a defining moment. A loss of public trust in higher education, the erosion of the longtime compact between universities and the federal government, and rapid technological change — especially artificial intelligence — are reshaping how we teach, learn, and engage with the world. In this context, we must ask: How should the American university adapt to best serve future generations?

To help answer this question, I am pleased to announce the formation of the Committee on the Future of the American University. This committee is charged with envisioning the long-term future of Cornell as an American university pursuing its core missions of education, scholarship, public impact, and community engagement. It will explore the challenges and opportunities of this moment, engaging thoughtfully with both supporters and skeptics — within our university and beyond.

This committee will examine pressing questions across four key areas: 

• Undergraduate education: How should a university educate undergraduates in an environment of diminished trust and significant sociotechnical change? How can we embrace change while retaining our commitment to the power of reading and writing, dialogue, human ingenuity, and critical thought?
• Graduate education: How can we sustain and strengthen graduate training amid shifting public perceptions and funding models? How should universities train the next generation of scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders?
• Scholarship: How can American universities remain global leaders in research through new partnerships and funding models? How do we deepen public trust in the value and integrity of our scholarship?
• Public impact and community engagement: How can we leverage the knowledge we generate to inform policy and practice and to improve the daily lives of communities, families, and individuals?

Answering these questions is a significant undertaking. I am grateful to the committee co-chairs for their leadership: Ariel Avgar, the David M. Cohen Professor of Labor Relations, Law, and History and Director of the Center for Applied Research on Work; Phoebe Sengers, Professor of Information Science and Science & Technology Studies; Praveen Sethupathy, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Sciences; and Adam Smith, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Director of the Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies, and Associate Dean and Secretary of Faculty.

We welcome and encourage all members of the university community to share their ideas and perspectives by emailing fau@cornell.edu and participating in listening sessions that will be held throughout the academic year. The committee will also gather and share resources to advance this important work. The full charge and list of committee members can be found here.

Envisioning the future of American higher education is a bold but necessary endeavor. Grounded in our enduring founding principles, Cornellians are equipped to rise to this challenge. I look forward to thoughtful and inspiring conversations across campus and throughout our broader community.

Sincerely,

Kavita Bala
Provost