To review and publicize the materials produced for several new introductory physics courses, and to assess the experience gained in using them, the Commission on College Physics held a Conference on New Materials for Introductory Physics Courses for Science and Engineering Students on 6–8 May 1965, at the University of Minnesota. This paper presents a brief review of the historical origins and general characteristics of the three most important new courses—those developed at Caltech, Berkeley, and MIT. Reports by persons active in teaching these and other new courses are summarized briefly, with particular emphasis on the effectiveness of the new materials with students, and on problems which have arisen during their use.