Saturday March 1, 2014. The End of the University? The Ohio Valley Faculty Symposium with Dr. Santa Ono, president of the U. of Cincinnati. Two talks live via videoconference on 8 sites in 4 states. Note: In his second talk, Dr. Santa Ono explores the challenges and opportunities for followers of Jesus Christ.
In Higher Ed? Wondering about The End of the University? If you’re near one of the campuses hosting The End of the University? on Saturday, March 1 (9 am – noon), I encourage you (whether or not your you’re a faculty) not only to participate in this excellent symposium provided by InterVarsity’s Ohio Valley Faculty Ministry, but also to be in conversation to apply what is discussed on your particular campus context.
The landscape of higher education is changing’ rapidly. From contained online degrees and MOOCs, to budget deficits and institutional collapse, the context for our university system is shifting. Dr. Santa Ono, president of the University of Cincinnati, maps this changing landscape and begins to navigate with participants what lies ahead in the foreseeable future of higher education. Drawing on experience at Oxford, Emory, Chicago, and Harvard, Dr. Ono is a respected leader in higher education and at the forefront of technological, social, and research changes currently underway.
Please join colleagues from across the Midwest and beyond in this multi-site symposium (seven sites in four states) to consider both “the end” of the university and our individual and collective role in its future.
I hope to see some of you in Pittsburgh at Duquesne University and others via videoconferencing — please complete your registration by Tuesday, February 25, 2014.
If you are not in the area and/or unable to attend for another reason, I encourage you to consider becoming part of an on-line Emerging Scholars Network workgroup (to learn more email ESN).
A few relevant links:

- Reaching “The End of Education?”
- The Calling of Christian Postgrad Students and Academics — Ard Louis
- Marsden and Ono on Renewing the Campus
- Evangelical Scholarship and the Pursuit of Excellence
- ESN Blog tag: The Soul of the American University
- ESN Blog tag: The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship Discussion
- Faculty Ministry Resources: Community
- Faculty Ministry Resources: Salt and Light
- Faculty Ministry Resources: Integration of Faith, Learning and Practice
Early next week: An update on ESN’s March Madness ’14:
Which topics must Christians be prepared to engage in today’s higher education?
In the mean time, invite friends from your InterVarsity fellowship group to collaborate with you in making submissions in order to enter the drawing for a $100 InterVarsity Press prize for your fellowship. To learn more visit ESN’s March Madness ’14.

Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!
There is also Anthony T Kronman’s book Education’s End? Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on Meaning of Life (Yale). Dr. Kronman (JD, Yale and PhD in philosophy, Yale) documents and laments how our colleges and universities have given up on encouraging the exploration of the question of the meaning of life. He doesn’t write as a theist and that reveals itself, but he’s an ally in the pursuant to raise the level of conversation about the true importance of colleges and universities. Dr. Kronman is the Sterling Professor at Yale Law School.
Excellent suggestion David! That’s why we have an online learning community with a comments section. To help “fill out the shelf”, I’ve added Micheal Hickerson’s series on Education’s End. Please keep sharing suggestions.
PS. Your developing blog is great! Please let me know if you have material you desire to share with and/or books you desire to review for the Emerging Scholars Network Blog 🙂