The Indispensable University

Indispensable Universities addresses timely and increasingly universal issues in ways that seem to me to be accessible to audiences whose members need the reasoning and information that is provided. It has been a pleasure to read and reread the manuscript. It is imaginative and informed and it has gravity. Its evidentiary basis is solid. It reflects the sound of two wise men talking about matters on which they are utterly qualified to speak. Not many books can claim to do that. I can imagine this book as the kind of standard work that university leaders as well as state and federal policy makers will have to read. -- John T. Casteen, III, president, University of Virginia
A fine book. Without committed and clearly active presidents/chancellors the important transformative potential of universities in their regional/global contexts cannot be realized. What is especially key here is the ways in which the university is placed in the 'knowledge economy.' Perhaps the best thing about President Trani's book is its full-throttle normative assertion of the 'indispensable' role of the university. It is the argument of passionate higher education advocates. Indispensable Universities is more a policy essay and report from the field of the political economic struggles for the relevance and best practices of twenty-first century higher education. -- David C. Perry, director of the Great Cities Institute; professor of urban planning and policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
A terrific read, and I'm sure that it will become a standard work on both sides of the Atlantic. I found it full of insights as well as offering many telling examples. We'll certainly have it on our MBA reading list. -- Paul Temple, Centre for Higher Education Studies, the Institute of Education, University of London
A most exhaustive and informative text, and likely to be very helpful to all presidents interested in promoting economic development and community engagement; Opening chapters are a documented set of arguments; the references are extremely helpful. Best of all are the case studies. The book makes powerful points and then backs them up with well grounded case studies. Precisely the institutions I would have selected as exemplars within their distinctive missions; I loved chapter four on the history of the landgrant mission. Also the references to the full array of postsecondary education, and especially community colleges, was very insightful; The organization of the book is thoughtful as well, and a very easy read. -- Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor, State University of New York
Eugene P. Trani is convincing in his argument that universities should be economic drivers in their regions....The book weaves together case studies and best practices about higher education from well-known urban and land-grant universities and community colleges. -- Tom Silvestri * Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 2010 *
The book is very interesting and informative. It's a good read! College administrators will learn much from the content of this book. It contains many thoughtful insights and perspectives on the modern university. -- Roderick J. McDavis, president, Ohio University
Recommended. * CHOICE, August 2010 *
An interesting, insightful, and notably wide ranging discussion of what they see as a key aspect of modern higher education—its role in community and economic development. * Journal of Higher Education *
The core issue in this volume addresses several perspectives on how to reposition higher education institutions to realize the maximum potential by catalyzing economic development for both the institution and the surrounding community and region. The authors presented a clear and easy-to-follow methodology, primarily focusing on public institutions....The authors presented a well-written and clearly organized model on the value of colleges and universities to their communities....The readers most likely to benefit from The Indispensable University are senior level administrators searching for methods to build regional economic strategies and promote distinctiveness for the institutions. In fact, this book should be recommended reading. * International Journal Of Educational Advancement *