Courage to Inquire Ideals & Realities in Higher Education

The Courage to Inquire is an informed, behind-the-scenes look at American higher education. Thomas Ehrlich, former President of Indiana University, brilliantly delineates and analyzes all of the key issues currently debated in higher education, the role of research versus teaching, the importance of research for its own sake, the qualities that make a good teacher, and the necessity for professors to serve their communities. What are the ingredients of great teaching? What do undergraduates need to learn? Can college teach values? Why is research not a dirty word? Are teaching and research at odds? How do universities help economic growth? Does it make sense to integrate community service into the curriculum? These are some of the questions that Ehrlich confronts based on his experience at Indiana University. He also deals with the most troublesome and in some cases controversial issues challenging universities: the complexities of planning in today's complicated world, tenure, the challenge of educating the new majority (non-traditional students), how to enhance minority presence on predominately white campuses, how to combat bigotry, the necessity of resisting political correctness, and the difficulties of keeping athletics within bounds (an issue that received considerable publicity in Ehrlich's first year at Indiana). He ends with an eloquent statement regarding the importance of a university education instilling the courage to inquire and the morality of reason.

"President of Indiana University from 1987 to 1994, Ehrlich offers an earnest, brief valedictory on his experience, dispensing well-considered wisdom and also putting some tough issues into play." --Publishers Weekly

"These recollections shine with the wit and wisdom of one of our most experienced and admired university presidents... " --J. W. Peltason, President, University of California

"Tom Ehrlich--a distinguished scholar, public servant, and university president--has written a lucid, provocative, and intensely personal account of the challenges facing higher education... " --Harold Shapiro, President, Princeton University

A university president gives an insider's view of the goals and problems of higher education from athletics to political correctness and tenure.

Thomas Ehrlich is President Emeritus of Indiana University and the first Distinguished University Scholar of California State University. He is the author, co-author, or editor of five other books. Juliet Frey has earned degrees from Yale University, Smith College, and Indiana University. She is currently Director of Information Resources in the Office of the President at Indiana University.

I: Lessons Learned

William Ehrlich

Abram Chayes

Learned Hand

George W. Ball

Herman B Wells

II: Great Teachers and Teaching

What Makes a Teacher Great?

Seven Lively Virtues

Creative Connections

Teaching and General Education

Can We Teach Values?

III: Research Is Not a Dirty Word

"The Sweet, Terrible Wholeness of Life"

The University as Refuge-hut

The Great Research Debate

Freedom To Pursue Problems

The Researcher as Teacher

Investing In Scholarship

IV: The University Serving The Community

Pro Bono Publico

The Tradition of Serving Society

Service at Center Stage

The University and National Service

Service Learning

Integrating Service, Research, and Teaching

Partners with Business

Partners with Schools

Partners in Health Care

Partners in the Arts

Common Ground