The papers presented in this special sessions detail current and proposed academic programs in the information, library and communication sciences. The rapid demands and changes in technology dictate that academics must address the needs of the information age. Educating students in the technical and behavioral aspects of communication and information science is vital to society. Faculty at Syracuse University, University of California, Berkeley, and Indiana University have addressed these changes by integrating curriculum and research in library and information sciences to deal with the use of technology today and tomorrow.

At the University of Arizona, a commission was established by the Provost to create a vision for education in the domains of communication, computer technology, and information systems. The objective of the commission was to create a vision for what the curriculum should look like as we move into the 21st century. The commission examined the efforts of the above mentioned departments and the strengths specific to the University of Arizona and the needs of industry and society. Input for the study was collected from industrial, governmental and educational leaders. At this time there is no implementation plan of the proposed University of Arizona vision. No discussion, through a campus-wide forum, of its advantages or disadvantages has taken place at the University of Arizona. The purpose of this special session is to share the vision and insights from several universities and to discuss how curriculum should be re-engineered to meet the demands of the 21st Century.