Learn More Series
Each year, we devote ourselves to investigating a single topic of social importance through our Learn More Series. This signature series features nationally renowned speakers, workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, reading groups, and many other forms of engagement spanning the entire academic year.
Through this rigorous exploration, BU D&I seeks to spark new learning, catalyze important conversations, and equip faculty, staff, and students with tools to turn theory into action. Understanding that we are stronger in community, we invite and actively encourage BU community members to help shape the series each year through working groups and grant-funded projects.
Contemporary institutions of higher education are hubs for scholarly inquiry, social activism, artistic expression, and free speech. However, in recent years, critiques of higher education and questions about its purpose have become widespread, calling its purpose and role in society into question.
This year’s Learn More Series theme, The Future of Higher Education, invites BU community members to engage and grapple with challenging topics related to the purpose and role of higher education through educational programming, rigorous scholarly inquiry, and empirical research endeavors. We invite you to join us by submitting proposals for our Learn More Series Community and Research grants. All Learn More Series programs must center social identity in the context of contemporary issues of power, privilege, and oppression. Some potential topics to further explore this year’s theme include but are by no means limited to:
- Higher education policy and law
- Free speech and academic freedom on campus
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work in higher education
- Campus abolition
- Civil discourse and dialogue across difference
- Student activism and social movements
- Economics of higher education
- Race, access, and equity in higher education
- College choice
- Politics and higher education
- Artificial intelligence and DEI in higher education
- Equity and justice in your specific field of study
Scroll down to see a listing of upcoming Learn More Series events and come back to this page to find ongoing updates. To explore past years’ events, visit our events archive.
Learn More Series Archive
- 2024-2025: Indigenous Identities & Experiences
- This year, we explored the many facets of Indigenous culture, identity, experiences, and history.
- 2023-2024: LGBTQIA+ Identity & Experiences
- This year, we explored the many facets of LGBTQIA+ community, culture, identity, experiences, and history. This year’s featured speaker events were co-sponsored by the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff.