Address | Lawrence S. Bacow JD '76, MPP '76, PhD '78, President, Harvard University

TL;DR

The new President of Harvard University emphasizes the importance of higher education in a post-factual world and calls for defending truth, excellence, and opportunity.

Transcript

well I guess it's appropriate that I begin with good afternoon see people learned a lot at Harvard this is truly an astonishing sight seeing so many of you here in Harvard Yard today it's a great reminder that nobody gets anywhere of consequence in this world on his or her own and that includes becoming the president of Harvard I've been blessed to... Read More

Key Insights

• 😀 Higher education is facing challenges related to its value, affordability, and accessibility in today's society.
• 🎓 Colleges and universities have a responsibility to defend the values of truth, excellence, and opportunity, and to contribute to the public good.
• 🤔 The pursuit of truth and freedom of expression are essential in higher education, as they enable critical thinking and the advancement of knowledge.
• ✋ Higher education must embrace diversity, both in terms of demographic representation and ideological differences.
• 🎓 Colleges and universities need to focus on collaboration, cost reduction, and leveraging technology to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of education.
• 🇺🇸 Immigrants make significant contributions to higher education and drive innovation and economic growth in the United States.
• 🥰 The role of higher education goes beyond academic achievements; it includes nurturing students' humanity, appreciation for art and culture, and dedication to public service.
• ✋ Higher education institutions should strive to create opportunities for students from all backgrounds, nurturing their talents and helping to address income inequality.

Questions & Answers

Q: What challenges are facing higher education in America today?

Higher education is currently facing challenges such as questioning its value, affordability, accessibility, and whether it is in touch with the rest of America.

Q: How does the new President believe higher education can contribute to society?

The new President believes that higher education plays a crucial role in shaping a just society and empowering individuals by providing them with knowledge, opportunities, and the ability to challenge conventional wisdom.

Q: How does the President address the issue of truth in a post-factual world?

The President highlights the importance of a broad liberal education in teaching students to think critically, differentiate between opinion and facts, and become sources of truth and wisdom themselves.

Q: How does the President emphasize the need for diversity and freedom of expression in higher education?

The President calls for embracing diversity in every possible dimension, including ideological diversity. He encourages faculty and students to challenge their own thinking and engage in civil discourse with those who hold different opinions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The new President of Harvard acknowledges the support he has received throughout his life and expresses gratitude to his mentors and family.

• He highlights the challenges facing higher education today, including questioning the value and relevance of colleges and universities.

• The President emphasizes the importance of higher education as a public good and a pillar of democracy, calling for a reaffirmation of its contribution to the national life.