Important trends concerning the role of the liberal arts curriculum in American higher education are discussed in this collection of conference papers. The "great books" program at St. John's College is examined in a paper by Eva T. H. Brann focusing on why the St. John's plan has endured and changed little since its inception. Authors of the Western tradition and the skills of language and mathematics are emphasized in this program. In the second paper, Gerald Grant discusses the diverse course offerings now characteristic of American institutions of higher education and the resulting lack of coherence in the curriculum. The evolution, purpose, and characteristics of the core curriculum introduced at Harvard University in 1979 is the subject of the third paper. The direction of educational reform as influenced by the core curriculum movement at Harvard is examined by Alston Chase ("Skipping Through College: Reflections of the Decline of Liberal Arts Education"). The decline in the quality of teaching and student preparation for college is discussed. Academic trends throughout the history of American higher education are reviewed and projections about the future of higher education are presented. A summary of the conference discussion and a list of conference participants is included. (SF)