American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century: Social, Political, and Economic Challenges

by Philip G. Altbach (Editor), Robert O. Berdahl (Editor), Patricia J. Gumport (Editor)

This new edition of American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century explores current issues of central importance to the leadership, accountability, access, finance, technology, academic freedom, the canon, governance, and race. Chapters also deal with key constituencies―students and faculty―in the context of a changing academic environment. While the contributors agree with critics who argue for ongoing reassessment of public institutions, they provide a more balanced perspective. They take issue with the "crisis" culture that has emerged among critics of current higher education practices, pointing out that higher education has faced challenges through its history. By illuminating the complex interplay between institutions and external forces, the book provides a key to guide the endeavors of faculty, students, and administrative leaders. Fully revised and updated, the second edition includes a new chapter on higher education markets. Contributors include Philip G. Altbach, Michael J. Bastedo, Robert O. Berdahl, Robert Birnbaum, Mitchell J. Chang, Marc Chun, Melanie E. Corrigan, Eric L. Dey, Judith S. Eaton, Peter D. Eckel, Roger L. Geiger, Lawrence E. Gladieux, Patricia J. Gumport, Fred. F. Harcleroad, Sylvia Hurtado, D. Bruce Johnstone, Jacqueline E. King, Kofi Lomotey, Aims C. McGuinness Jr., Michael A. Olivas, Robert M. O'Neil, Gary Rhoades, Frank A. Schmidtlein, Sheila Slaughter, and Ami Zusman.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Grad School, Textbooks, Academic

568 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Bryan Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid textbook for anyone seriously studying American academia, this collection covers an ambitious range of topics. History of the sector, changing student needs, educational technology, individual sectors (community colleges, research universities): readers will find much to learn here.

[Stephanie Toigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of my Master's program has focused on college student development and developing my own skills to help that process as well as planning programs and environments to help this happen. This book filled in wholes that my education was missing. From understanding the stakeholders that higher education is accountable to, how higher education is funded, access and the ins and outs of financial aid. I don't know if this book would have meant so much to me if I wasn't in a class, but it is an incredibly helpful resource. I am thankful for the holistic view that it provided me. A great resource to have a perspective of the current state of higher education.

[Bre Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the articles could be hard to get through, but most were interesting

[Joseph Wycoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recycled tripe published every 8-10 years since the 1970s by higher education scholars...I have _Higher Education in American Society_ (1981), edited by Philip G. Altbach and Robert O. Berdahl, on my bookshelf as well. There is little difference between the two volumes as if the twentieth (1981) and twenty-first (2011) centuries do not differ. Well, the "authors" change. In 1981, T. R. McConnell is attributed for "Autonomy and Accountability" (Chapter 3). In 2011, Frank A. Schmidtlein and Robert O. Berdahl are attributed for "Autonomy and Accountability" (Chapter 3). The subtitles of Chapter 3 change, but the underlying text/outline in both articles is nearly the same. Compare the top of page 40 (1981) to page 69 (2011): "If a college or university is to effectively define its goals and select or invent the means of attaining them, it must have a high degree of" independence (1981) / autonomy (2011). The sentence is identical with the exception of independence/autonomy. McConnell (1981) cites no other scholar for this profound (?) insight, while Schmidtlein and Berdahl (2011) cite a work (without placing the identical text in quotations) by Howard R. Bowen from 1977 as if McConnell is one who first plagiarized these words! (I recall I found a similar sentence in a work from earlier in the 1970s but could not verify for this impetuous review...) Unfortunately, higher education students have been asked to read this ideological trash as if it is disciplinary canon for nearly 50 years now. For tenured scholars, the words appear to be some sort of worldly wisdom to be passed on, memorized, scribed (copied), and unquestioned by their graduate school pupils. Oh, wait, how do I know this? I wrote a book about the history of higher education scholarship, focusing on the use and abuses of "institutional autonomy" since the 1950s (_Honors of Inequality_).

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for grad school

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a class on perspectives in higher education in the United States for my master's degree program. I was only required to read the first nine chapters, so I've only read about 300 of the roughly 450 pages in this book, but I think enough to give a review. This book is composed of 17 chapters by different authors on various topics in higher education. Topics reviewed include academic freedom, the federal and state government, accreditation, the legal environment, and patterns in higher education.

Like most compilations of essays, some of these were better than others. I particularly liked the breakdown of patterns and trends in higher education broken down by decades. For those who work or study within America's higher education system and are curious to learn more about its history or the complexity of the system, this book is a good place to start. It gives a good overview of numerous topics from the evolving job of the college president to the influence of the GI bill on colleges and universities.

On the other hand, this book is somewhat dated. The edition I read was published in 1999. Substantial changes in public policy and trends in higher education have taken place in the fifteen years since this was written. Therefore, this text is probably a better resource for historical overview of higher education in America rather than current practices.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all but three or four chapters, giving myself credit for finishing since I read 500+ pages. Overall I enjoyed this for a higher ed book, provided a good overview of the current state of higher ed and how it functions. The 5th edition was updated to include modern day challenges and trends.

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used it in my first semester in Drexel. Good overview of the major issues in higher education.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, Harvard Extension School class on Higher Education Strategy and Management! Very interesting book.

[Jason Panella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third edition is filled with tons of excellent articles. (I was surprised, honestly.) Most of the newer articles look at where some of the current higher ed trends are heading.

[Godfrey Linnex · Rating 5 out of 5]

where is the book?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exploring the complex issues in higher ed. We have a lot of work to do.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for HEA 501 Foundations of Higher Education with Dr. Robert Mangione.

[Delaney]

For school

[Jelizabeth True · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for grad school. good intro to HE issues.

[Aaron Clevenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required for school not for casual reading, not even for casual learning.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

RMU