This second issue of Metropolitan Universities begins a series in which each issue will focus on a particular dimension of the institution. Our selection of "Challenges of Diversity" as a start-off theme requires little explanation. Students are the principal constituency of any college or university, and their rich but challenging diversity is a central characteristic of metropolitan universities. John Jones, vice president for student affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, undertook the task of guest editing this issue, and we are greatly indebted to him. His broad knowledge and experience at a national as well as institutional level enabled him to define a useful list of topics and to identify excellent authors. For metropolitan universities, there exists no clear demarcation be- tween inside and outside, between campus and community. The reciprocal relationship that must exist between the institution and its environment is reflected in the alternating perspectives of the sequence of themes for subsequent issues of this journal. Groups of articles focusing on the impact of the external environment on metropolitan universities-such as, in the present issue, institutional implications of the diversity of the metropolitan population-will be followed by issues exploring how institutions can contribute to their surroundings. Don Langenberg, chancellor of the University of Maryland System, will be the guest editor of the Fall 1990 issue, which will focus on the relationships of metropolitan universities to their communities. Contribu- tions will describe the metropolitan area, examine the nature of the interaction of metropolitan universities and their region, discuss their role as corporate entities, expfore their potential impact on the quality of urban life and treat, as well, the relationship of metropolitan universities and local government. The Winter 1990 issue will again turn inward and focus on the professoriate of metropolitan universities. Lee Knefelkamp, senior associ- ate at the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE) has agreed to be its guest editor. It will contain articles on the new and expanded definition of scholarship appropriate to metropolitan universities, on the broader array of skills needed by the professoriate of metropolitan universities and on the implications for the preparation of future faculty. Other contributions will discuss the changes in faculty interests and activities during an individual's career, the effective use of part-time and adjunct faculty, and the special burdens placed on minority faculty. Themes for subsequent issues of Metropolitan Universities will include the relationships of these institutions with public schools, the special challenges they face with regard to various aspects of teaching and 4 Metropolitan Universities/Summer 1990 learning, and the contributions they make to regional economic develop- ment. Two new features are introduced in the current issue. Book Notes provides brief descriptions of books of current interest'1o our readers. We welcome suggestions of publications to be mentioned in this column or to be reviewed in greater length in Book Reviews. Forum presents expressions of personal opinion on important subjects. We invite contributions of 1200-1500 words, as well as shorter Letters not to exceed 400 words. Please share with us your reactions to published articles as well as suggestions for topics you would like to see discussed in future issues. We are also eager to receive items under the rubric of Interactive Strategies. But, above all, we hope that as the existence of the journal becomes more widely known, an initial trickle will soon swell to a steady stream of submitted articles on any subject germane to metropolitan universities, whether or not they fit into the theme of particular journal issues. Please write or call me if you wish to discuss possible topics. Ernest A. Lynton 92 Allerton Street Brookline, MA 02146 MU1990-Summer-004_page3 MU1990-Summer-005-page4