Fulbright New Century Scholars to Address Higher Education Access and Equity

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Scholars from 25 countries will gather on March 29-31 at a meeting hosted by the University at Buffalo to discuss and debate ways to improve access and equity in higher education worldwide.

Bruce Johnstone, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and University Professor of Higher and Comparative Education, will serve as Distinguished Scholar Leader among the attending scholars, who are members of Fulbright New Century Scholars Program. The three-day meeting will be held in Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Amherst.

More than 30 scholars from such diverse countries as Uganda, China, Poland, Brazil, England and Russia will participate in the conference.

The scholars will work together in thematic groups related to the central topic, "Higher Education in the 21st Century: Access and Equity." They will address the cultural and societal norms that affect access and equity, the role of K-16 education in limiting or advancing access to higher education, and the resources and policies that provide greater access to higher education.

By bringing together a diverse group of educational leaders to address the topic of higher education access and equity, "the scholars will seek constructive ways for institutions to develop policies that will correspond to the challenge of ensuring equitable access within the framework of higher education in the 21st century," Johnstone said.

The meeting will be the first in a series of seminars for the group and will formally launch their work on higher education access and equity issues. At the conclusion of the meeting, the scholars will have established goals and objectives for improving higher education access and equity around the world.

UB President John B. Simpson will host a dinner reception for the scholars. Simpson recently formed a partnership with Buffalo Public Schools aimed at improving student outcomes and access to higher education for the city's public school students. UB Professor Stephen C. Dunnett, vice provost for international programs, also will speak to the assembled group.

Since 2001, the Fulbright New Century Scholars Program has forged new links among scholars and professionals from around the world who have worked together to seek solutions to issues and concerns that affect humankind. Each year approximately 30 outstanding scholars and practitioners from the U.S. and abroad are selected to participate in the program and engage in debate and dialogue based on multidisciplinary research. For more information about the New Century Scholars Program, go to http://www.cies.org/NCS/.

During their stay in the Buffalo Niagara region, the scholars will tour the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and visit Niagara Falls.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.