The “Faculty Governance in Higher Education Conference” at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 26, 2008 assumes as its foundational premise that Faculty Governance bodies are vital to the success of institutions of higher education.  We assume that the relative vitality and effectiveness of Faculty Governance bodies at U.S. colleges and universities has far-reaching consequences for the educational, research, and service missions of those institutions. In this conference we intend to explore the roles and responsibilities of the faculty and Faculty governance systems in assuring Academic Excellence, Integrity and Freedom. We hope you will join us in this endeavor.