While panelists were wary of any prediction that technology would end the residential undergraduate experience or create major reductions in professors, they agreed technology will change the campus experience significantly.

Richard noted that one benefit of distance learning technologies is a reexamination of learning and teaching methods in colleges, which have remained static and unchallenged for the last 30 or 40 years.

Panelists expressed no doubt that American universities lead the world's educational systems as the twenty-first century begins. Rhodes noted while only one or two of the world's best ten universities were in the United States in 1900, only one or two are not in the United States today.

A New Generation of Donors

In a panel moderated by University of Chicago President emeritus Hanna Holborn Gray, donors also discussed balancing their interests with Harvard's needs.

"You can't get money from some people unless their name is in lights 20 feet high," said Rita E. Hauser, a campaign co-chair, who participated in the panel.

Walter B. Hewlett '66, a director of the Hewlett-Packard Company and chair of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, noted that universities are largely under-funded.

In recent years, people have been able to give more, added Hewlett, who is also a Harvard Overseer.