Since 2002 I have offered, through a series of writings, my reflections on the nature and possibilities of research universities in general and of New York University in particular.

My practice, in each of these efforts, has been to present initial drafts for reaction and comment, first to my colleagues in the University Leadership Team and Faculty Senators Council, and then to the broader NYU community. At each stage, I review the responses I receive and make changes (often extensive) to my original version. Through this iterative process, I hope to engage the community and advance our collective thinking about matters central to our mission and character.

The first two of these reflections -- "The Common Enterprise University and the Teaching Mission" and "The University as Sanctuary" -- have moved through a full cycle of circulation. Two others are at various stages of development: "The Research University in a Global Context" and "Graduate and Professional Education in the Research University." I am now posting a fifth: "Dogmatism and Complexity: Civil Discourse and the Research University." This piece posits as a central role for research universities like NYU the opportunity -- and the obligation -- to restore serious civil discourse to our society and polity.

Your comments on all these reflections -- but particularly this most recent one -- are welcome and deeply appreciated so please feel free to be in touch with me directly if and as you read these.

• New York as an Idea Capital (October, 2007 | The New York Observer)
• Fire and Ice: The Knowledge Century and the Urban University (August, 2007)
• A Letter to Virginia Tech President (PDF) (April, 2007)
• For Lisa Ellen Goldberg (February, 2007)
• 2006 Commencement Address (May, 2006)
• The Common Enterprise University and the Teaching Mission (November, 2004)
• The University as Sanctuary (November, 2004)
• The Research University in a Global Context (November, 2004)
• Graduate and Professional Education in the Research University (September, 2004)
• Dogmatism and Complexity: Civil Discourse and the Research University (August, 2005)

Other writings

• The Birth of Distrust (July, 2009)
• Report of US/UK Study Group on Higher Education and Collaboration in Global Context (PDF)
  (July, 2009)
• The 2009-2010 Academic Year Budget (May 2009)
• A Message on the Economy and University Priorities (January, 2009)
• NYU Abu Dhabi, and Our Global Future (October, 2007)
• A Major Step Forward for NYU (September, 2004)
• Beginning a New Year (October, 2003)
• Managing Austerity While Seizing Opportunities (March, 2003)
• Installation Address September, 2002)
• In Remembrance of 9/11 (September, 2002)
• Sustaining the Moral Surge (October, 2001)

Television Appearances

• Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" (December, 2006)
• Dogmatism Versus Civil Disclosure (November, 2005 | The Open Mind)
• The University as "Sacred Space", Part I (January, 2004 | The Open Mind)
• The University as "Sacred Space", Part II (January, 2004 | The Open Mind)
• The University as "Enterprise" Part I (May, 2002 | The Open Mind)
• The University as "Enterprise" Part II (May, 2002 | The Open Mind)