The Society for Values in Higher Education is a fellowship of teachers and others who care deeply about ethical issues—such as integrity, diversity, social justice and civic responsibility—facing higher education and the wider society. We believe that such values call for study, reflection, discussion, and action. We pursue these activities through publications, projects, regional gatherings, and an annual national meeting.

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96th Annual Meeting

Reimagining Higher Education: The Future(s) of American Colleges and Universities

Our Work

Theory of Public Higher Education

Theory of Public Higher Education is a joint project of SVHE and Indiana University. Over the last year and a half, a team of six scholars have met to think through the creation of a university “from scratch.” Given the crises in higher education, this project is timely and important. Their work will result in a special issue of Soundings.

Symposiums

One of the most intellectually compelling projects of the Society for Values in Higher Education are the Soundings symposia. The symposia are organized around various themes and occur every few years. Leading scholars from across the country and around the world gather to share their work on a common topic or issue. For example, in 2014 we partnered with Western Kentucky University to host A Symposium on Peace, Islam, and Counter-narratives. In 2018, we partnered with Indiana University Kokomo to host The New Populism and the Politics of Dissensus. After each symposium, the work of the scholars is edited and revised and appears in a special issue of Soundings. With decades of such work, SVHE has established a tradition of Soundings symposia that makes an incredibly important contribution to the academy and to public knowledge.

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Support for Young Scholars

Since 2010, SVHE has offered support to young scholars through the Mary Jo Small Fellowship program. Named for a late member who made it her special work to nurture young professionals, Mary Jo Small Fellowships cover the cost of registration, room and board, and travel to a Fellows Meeting. While there, the Fellows have an opportunity to network with more senior professionals from across the country and form mentoring relationships in a welcoming environment.