It is fitting that we find ourselves in Philadelphia for this year's conference as we focus on our conference theme: the Summer Marketplace. The city is alive and has a rich tradition of commerce, education and civic engagement. Early on, theory established itself as a colonial center for commerce and of course led the industrial revolution in the United States. Late in the last century, as the traditional industrial base fled the city, Philadelphia re-invented itself. Once again, it is economically vibrant and culturally exciting.

For higher education, the city's legacy is important. No man more influenced the city and, indeed the nation, than Benjamin Franklin. He beheved in the connection between education, economic prosperity and public service. He established the University of Pennsylvania—arguably, America's first University. With its focus on teaching the common man, Franklin strove to not only educate people for economic prosperity, but also educate people for the betterment of society—in effect, connecting higher education to the dual purposes of vocational and civic engagement.

Two hundred years later, we find ourselves struggling once again with the role of higher education in our society. Is the goal of our enterprise for the betterment of the individual or is it for the betterment of society? Summer Session has provided and continues to provide unlimited opportunities through our encompassing programs to fulfill the needs in an increasingly competitive educational marketplace. Summer Session administrators can lead the institution and guide it to strike a balance between doing good for society, while giving students the skills and knowledge needed in the new economy.

This conference has been designed to help answer these questions. The plenary sessions will provide us a big picture view of where education is today and how the industry struggles with these competing demands of economic development and civic engagement. We focus not only on the industry, but also on ourselves in our roles within the university. The workshops and roundtables are designed to fill in practical and useful information on how to get our work done.

As always, the conference is a practitioner's conference. It is at the conference where professionals come together to learn, share, network, and explore our profession. As is always the case, the most important aspect of the conference is not to be found in these pages, but rather in the sharing of knowledge shared freely with the professionals who attend. Come join us in Philly! We'll have a soft pretzel waiting for you!

John G. LaBrie, Ed.D.
President-Elect
Conference Chair