56 Quotes by Derek Bok

I think it's sort of an outrage that companies should have to hire firms to teach the college graduates they employ how to write.

Ever since economists revealed how much universities contribute to economic growth, politicians have paid close attention to higher education.

The oldest of the arts and the youngest of the professions.

There's a great deal of difference between thinking reflectively about moral issues and achieving higher standards of ethical behavior.

Colleges and universities, for all the benefits they bring, accomplish far less for their students than they should. Many students graduate without being able to write well enough to satisfy their employers... reason clearly or perform competently in analyzing complex, non-technical problems.

I believe that Harvard can have, and must have, a strong affirmative action program that reflects our commitment to equal opportunity while fully respecting the academic standards of the University.

What college is all about is some kind of 4-year game about who is going to end up with the highest grades. And I don't mean to say that academic achievement isn't important. But it is, after all, a means to an end.

Critics of American colleges typically attribute the failings of undergraduate education to a tendency on the part of professors to neglect their teaching to concentrate on research. In fact, the evidence does not support this thesis, except perhaps in major research universities.

Universities are in a position where they can think very creatively.