Modern Challenges Need Best of Cities and Universities

DALLAS (SMU) ­­– The relationship between cities and universities is the theme of SMU’s Centennial Academic Symposium, scheduled for Nov. 10-11. “The University and the City: Higher Education and the Common Good” will feature education and business experts, sustainability leaders and technology innovators who will explore how partnerships between universities and cities can shape economic growth and continued success.

The sessions on Friday, Nov. 11, will occur from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Crum Auditorium of SMU’s Collins Executive Education Center at 3150 Binkley Ave. All sessions are open to media. Complimentary valet parking is available for media on Friday. The symposium will officially begin Thursday night, Nov. 10, with a reception and dinner at 6 p.m. in the Martha Proctor Mack Grand Ballroom at SMU’s Umphrey Lee Center at 3300 Dyer St.

The symposium includes keynote speakers and panel discussions addressing topics such as educating tomorrow’s workforce, the 21^st century multicultural city, technology and the city of the future, and the role of urban universities.

“The symposium is one of the highlights of 2011 as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of SMU’s founding,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “Knowing what an asset a high-quality university could be to the city, Dallas fought hard to be chosen as the site of SMU. But universities and their host cities must constantly update their relationships to be certain that intellectual capital is being focused for the greatest impact. This symposium helps to explore how universities and cities interact with each other across the landscape of higher education and the potential for even stronger partnerships.”

SMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Ludden said the theme of the symposium is fitting.

“SMU and Dallas have grown up together, so we could think of no better topic for our first Centennial Symposium than one about the symbiotic relationship between a city and higher education,” Ludden said. “For communities and universities to reach lofty goals, a partnership and robust exchange of ideas are needed. I believe this symposium gives us an excellent opportunity to enhance this effort.”

Among the speakers are Duy-Loan Le, senior fellow at Texas Instruments and a member of the board of directors of National Instruments; and Henry S. Bienen, president emeritus of Northwestern University, who will provide the opening address at the symposium. John C. Burkhardt, professor of higher education and director, The National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good, University of Michigan, will speak at the luncheon on “Higher Education for the Public Good.”

For more information and to see the symposium agenda, please visit http://www.smu.edu/100/symposium.