The 2008 Presidents Institute is scheduled for January 4–7 at the Marco Island Marriott on Marco Island, Florida. Under this year’s theme, “Revaluing Higher Education,” a number of Institute sessions will address challenges that presidents face in demonstrating the value of a college education to students and their parents as well as to external constituencies who question the cost and substance of a college education. The program will also help presidents decide how major shifts in societal values—in environmental sustainability or internationalism, for example—can be reflected in the internal values of the institution.

Keynoting the Institute will be Howard Gardner, John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His most recent book is Five Minds for the Future (2007).

In addition, the Institute will continue to feature practical presentations and discussions on the range of issues perennially topping the list of presidential responsibilities, from board relations, to fundraising, to cost and price.

The Institute will include a full Spouses Program and the New Presidents Program held on January 3–4.