University Lectures requests speaker proposals for 2007-08 season

University Lectures requests speaker proposals for 2007-08 seasonNovember 15, 2006SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

In the five years since its inception, University Lectures has been a force for engagement and inclusion on the Syracuse University campus, bringing together diverse communities and providing a framework for a multidisciplinary discourse among the entire Syracuse community, thanks to the generosity of donor Robert B. Menschel.

In the context of a campus vision of Scholarship in Action, University Lectures has served as a powerful resource for the University community. To make sure this important series continues to bring an outstanding roster of speakers to the Syracuse campus, the University Lectures Advisory Board (ULAB) invites all members of the SU community to participate in the selection of speakers for the 2007-08 season by submitting speaker recommendations.

The ULAB will consider all speaker recommendations, but will give special consideration to speakers who reflect the University Lectures’ mandate of bringing to the University individuals of exceptional accomplishment in the areas of architecture and design; humanities, arts and sciences; and public policy, management and communications.

In addition, the ULAB will look for speakers who will not only make dynamic and thought-provoking lecture presentations, but who are also willing to engage with student and community groups and invest time and energy beyond the requirements of the lecture, allowing themselves to become catalysts for inquiry and action.

The ULAB will therefore give priority consideration to recommendations that meet the following qualifications:

The speaker is recognized as a thought leader in more than one discipline, or through the originality of his/her work has expanded disciplinary/intellectual boundaries.

The speaker, or the speaker’s area of expertise, is conducive to opportunities for engagement with on-campus and off-campus communities in the form of seminars, special classes, group activities, etc.

The speaker inspires collaboration among programs in two or more schools/colleges, with the active support/involvement of faculty members in the participating programs.

Recommendations should be presented as proposals that explain in no more than 150 words how the recommended speaker will meet the traditional expectations of the University Lectures. The proposal must also demonstrate how the speaker will contribute to the intellectual or cultural enrichment of the community through engagement with various student or community groups, or by engaging in activities that are related to the speaker’s area of expertise. Recommendations must be endorsed by three members of the SU community (students, faculty or staff), including at least one faculty member.

A speaker proposal form can be downloaded from http://provost.syr.edu. Submit forms by fax, e-mail or campus mail to Esther Gray, Special Assistant for Academic Affairs, at the address below no later than Dec. 8.

Esther Gray500 Crouse-Hinds Hall Fax: 443-1839eegray@syr.edu

Information about the University Lectures, including a list of UCLB members, is available at http://provost.syr.edu/lectures.