"A fundamental purpose of all education is to prepare young people for life in society. Such a purpose is usually spelled out explicitly in collegiate founding documents.

In recent years, much attention has gone to preparing students for the workforce. While important, it is only part of the task. Equally if not more important is the preparation for civic life and democratic participation--preparation, that is, for citizenship in a democracy. Over the last decade, a growing number of universities have focused once again on this once central mission, by making it a priority to engage students in community service. Universities and colleges provide many opportunities to gain the skills and attitudes necessary for successful participation in society, through both the academic and extracurricular experiences.

As society continues to change, the goals of socialization expand, too. In addition to the traditional aims, new demands include developing global awareness; the capacity to appreciate gender, racial, and ethnic diversity; the ability to work in teams; and so on. The increasingly complexity of life makes these socialization tasks all the more important."

Frank Newman, "Saving Higher Education's Soul," Change (Sept./Oct. 2000)
17-23.

Frank Newman is the Director of the Futures Project: Policy for Higher Education in a Changing World, a higher education think tank based at Brown University.