Discussion Group: What Is the Purpose of Higher Education?

Name: Discussion Group: What Is the Purpose of Higher Education?
Start: 2025-10-17T08:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-17T09:45:00-05:00
Location: 365 East Campus Mall, Suite 200, Madison, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53715

Schedule

Fri Oct 17 2025 at 08:30 am to 09:45 am

UTC-05:00

Location

365 East Campus Mall, Suite 200, Madison, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53715 | Madison, WI

In an era of increasing criticism and financial strain, colleges and universities are being asked to defend their decisions and their very existence. What should higher education ultimately accomplish, and how well are today’s institutions fulfilling that mission?
Join us for a three-week, Friday morning discussion group focused on these questions with the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a case study. Together, we’ll explore the modern university’s three core pillars—teaching, research, and service—and reflect on their role in serving students and society. Each week, participants will engage with short readings or videos (such as UW’s mission statement or commercials for UW), then come together for lively, thoughtful conversation.
Topics include:
– UW–Madison’s mission and institutional values
– Key historical moments that shaped the university
– The Wisconsin Idea and its vision for public service
– How the university presents itself to students and the public
Fridays | Oct 17, 24, & 31 | 8:30–9:45 a.m.
Upper House (Birch Room) | Free to attend
All materials will be provided at no cost, and no advanced reading is necessary. The group is open to faculty, staff, graduate students, and community members invested in the future of higher education.
Daniel G. Hummel is the director of the Lumen Center. He has written about religion, politics, and foreign policy for Christianity Today, the Washington Post, Comment, and other publications. His most recent book is The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle Over the End Times Shaped a Nation (Eerdmans, 2023).