[ Biography ]

 

The modern research university, with its unparalleled creativity, is probably one of the greatest gifts dedicated to humanity by Americans in the twentieth century. Today, top universities in the U.S. are modeled after by their peers around the world aspiring to become the first-class. However, looked from the outside, American universities have often impressed admirers with their halo rather than substance. In this lecture I will try to present the great American university from the perspective of a researcher, administrator, and faculty member.

Widely known already are the ideas of American universities, including academic freedom, liberal education, social services, and multiculturalism, but few have had the opportunity to experience and examine the management system that ultimately implements these noble ideas. I will describe and analyze operational aspects of American universities, e.g., curriculum design, admissions, student affairs, assessment, and accreditation.

現代研究型大學以其無與倫比的創造力，成為美國人在二十世紀獻給人類最偉大的禮物之一。美國頂尖大學至少到今天為止還是我們建設一流大學的征途上無法繞行的豐碑。對於豐碑，我們常常不自覺地會去仰視，因而看到較多的是輪廓。在這個講座中，我試圖改仰視為平視，與聽眾分享我所親歷的美國大學。

有關美國大學的理念，包括大學的學術自由、通識教育、社會功能、多元文化等，聽眾大多耳熟能詳。然而這些理念是通過怎樣一個管理體制在大學裡得到落實，象牙之塔外面的大眾一般知之不詳。因此，我會通過課程設計、大學招生、學生事務、評估認證等話題，將美國大學的日常管理作一些梳理與分析。