A panel discussion on issues in higher education related to ethics, including cost, diversity and access, will be Monday, April 23, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

"What is the Purpose of College? A Panel Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas in Higher Education" will feature David Labaree, author of “A Perfect Mess: The Unlikely Ascendancy of American Higher Education.” Labaree has taught in all tiers of the higher educational system, including community colleges, state universities and private institutions. He is currently the Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education at Stanford University.

Labaree will be joined by Emory sociology professors Cassidy Puckett and Marisela Martinez-Cola, as well as graduate students from Emory and Georgia State University, to discuss how higher education has changed over time and the major challenges facing higher education today.

The event will be held in Room 102 of the Candler School of Theology’s Rita Anne Rollins Building. A coffee reception will follow.

The panel will discuss the pressing issues and ethical dilemmas that threaten the dominant position the U.S. system of higher education holds in the world market. These issues include the costs of higher education, Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA), affirmative action, and diversity and inclusion on college campuses. 

The event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology, Emory Integrity Project, Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, and Quality Enhancement Plan.