General Sessions

Ahead of the Curve: Future Shifts in Higher Education - Sponsored by PeopleSoft, Inc., An EDUCAUSE Platinum Partner

Wednesday, November 05, 2003
8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. GS03

Shirley A. Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

At the millennium’s dawn, the United States is in a quiet crisis not well recognized or understood. A century of science discovery and engineering innovation has brought us unprecedented comfort, prosperity, and leadership. Yet, the forces which brought us to this zenith are eroding: the talent that it rests upon is not being replaced in sufficient numbers. Our future prosperity, our global preeminence, and even our homeland security could be jeopardized. We must ask, who will do the science in the 21st century? We must further ask, what is the role of higher education in addressing this critical issue? How must universities adapt to meet the changes occurring in science and technology, and in a world that is quickly and quietly catching up in the very areas we where have excelled in the past?

Postconference Resource

Panel on Peer-to-Peer File Sharing: Looking for Win-Win Solutions

Thursday, November 06, 2003
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. GS02

Charles Phelps, Professor, University of Rochester

Cary Sherman, President and General Counsel, Recording Industry Association of America

Graham B. Spanier, President, The Pennsylvania State University

Jack Valenti, President and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America

Legal, ethical, and technical issues abound in the recent surge of P2P file sharing of copyrighted works both on campus and off. At the same time, the content and Internet industries are exploring a variety of new products and business models that offer legal solutions to online distribution. What are the interests and roles of campus leaders in these developments? Hear four prominent leaders of the higher education and the entertainment communities discuss their perspectives on these important questions.

Postconference Resource

The Academy's Obligation to Secure Its Cyberspace

Friday, November 07, 2003
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. GS01

Richard A. Clarke, Chairman, Good Harbor Consulting LLC

The past two U.S. presidents have called for urgent steps to increase security of computer networks. The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace calls for universities to take steps to prevent their networks from being used as platforms to attack the nation's critical infrastructure networks. Congress has now regulated cybersecurity for banking and finance and for health-care-related institutions. Should it do so for universities, or will they self-regulate by creating standards or best practices? What is the risk of identity theft or intellectual property rights violations from poor cybersecurity on university networks? What steps should universities undertake individually and collectively?