The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has
established a Presidential Task Force on the Undergraduate Educational
Commons in order to undertake a fundamental, comprehensive review
of the common educational experience of our undergraduates in the
early years of the 21st century.
Given the ever increasing centrality of science and engineering
to our world, the changing demography of our students, and the
advance of pedagogy and learning methods, it is time for MIT to
reflect on the common experiences of learning and discovery that
give basic definition to our undergraduate education.
MIT is compelled to undertake this review for our students, for
our faculty, and for society, so that we can fulfill our mission
to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology,
and other areas of scholarship to best serve the nation and the
world in the future.