<p>I think that Zimmer does not spend much time pondering what to do to improve the College, and he gives the impression of listening to and meeting with undergraduates out of duty, not interest. Nevertheless, every indication is that he agrees with the basic ideas that have governed university policy toward the college for the past two decades: the university cannot be healthy without a healthy college, a healthy college requires an undergraduate student body that is generally happy, diverse in various ways, and ambitious to take its place in society in a wide variety of capacities, the Hutchinson Core remains a viable and important educational principle but was never meant to be eternally fixed, and the true heart of the college is a commitment to intellectual rigor, critical thinking, and civil dialogue based on shared principles.</p>
<p>I also think the Chicago administration has done a super job – not a flawless one, but pretty darn great – of keeping its eye on the prize and moving forward on those ideals. There is plenty of continuity with the past.</p>