"Legacy of the Past and Promise of the Future: America's Land Grant Universities"

M. Duane Nellis
President, University of Idaho
Tuesday October 30
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Whitewater Room, Idaho Commons

Abstract: As the Civil War raged and our Union was in jeopardy, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant colleges in each state. It put new universities where the people were, and opened the doors to more than just the elite of societies. Equally significant, the act established institutions that provided not only theoretical knowledge, but also the specialized training in agriculture, engineering, manufacturing and other applied fields indispensable for the rebuilding of the nation after the ravages of war.

Only eight months later, Congress passed, and President Lincoln signed, legislation calling for the founding of the National Academy of Sciences, which became a guiding force in the evolution of American science and technology. Through these dual actions, access to education and the advancement of knowledge became central to our nation's success.