Higher Education in America: Revised Edition (The William G. Bowen Series Book 87)

__Higher Education in America__ is a landmark work--a comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the current condition of our colleges and universities from former Harvard president Derek Bok, one of the nation's most respected education experts. Sweepingly ambitious in scope, this is a deeply informed and balanced assessment of the many strengths as well as the weaknesses of American higher education today. At a time when colleges and universities have never been more important to the lives and opportunities of students or to the progress and prosperity of the nation, Bok provides a thorough examination of the entire system, public and private, from community colleges and small liberal arts colleges to great universities with their research programs and their medical, law, and business schools. Drawing on the most reliable studies and data, he determines which criticisms of higher education are unfounded or exaggerated, which are issues of genuine concern, and what can be done to improve matters. Some of the subjects considered are long-standing, such as debates over the undergraduate curriculum and concerns over rising college costs. Others are more recent, such as the rise of for-profit institutions and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Additional topics include the quality of undergraduate education, the stagnating levels of college graduation, the problems of university governance, the strengths and weaknesses of graduate and professional education, the environment for research, and the benefits and drawbacks of the pervasive competition among American colleges and universities. Offering a rare survey and evaluation of American higher education as a whole, this book provides a solid basis for a fresh public discussion about what the system is doing right, what it needs to do better, and how the next quarter century could be made a period of progress rather than decline. At A Time When Colleges And Universities Have Never Been More Important To The Lives And Opportunities Of Students Or To The Progress And Prosperity Of The Nation, Bok Provides A Thorough Examination Of The Entire System, Public And Private, From Community Colleges And Small Liberal Arts Colleges To Great Universities With Their Research Programs And Their Medical, Law, And Business Schools. Drawing On The Most Reliable Studies And Data, He Determines Which Criticisms Of Higher Education Are Unfounded Or Exaggerated, Which Are Issues Of Genuine Concern, And What Can Be Done To Improve Matters. Some Of The Subjects Considered Are Long-standing, Such As Debates Over The Undergraduate Curriculum And Concerns Over Rising College Costs. Others Are More Recent, Such As The Rise Of For-profit Institutions And Massive Open Online Courses (moocs). Additional Topics Include The Quality Of Undergraduate Education, The Stagnating Levels Of College Graduation, The Problems Of University Governance, The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Graduate And Professional Education, The Environment For Research, And The Benefits And Drawbacks Of The Pervasive Competition Among American Colleges And Universities. Offering A Rare Survey And Evaluation Of American Higher Education As A Whole, This Book Provides A Solid Basis For A Fresh Public Discussion About What The System Is Doing Right, What It Needs To Do Better, And How The Next Quarter Century Could Be Made A Period Of Progress Rather Than Decline.-- I. The Context. The American System Of Higher Education -- Purposes, Goals, And Limits To Growth -- The Governance Of Nonprofit Universities. Ii. Undergraduate Education. Going To College And Earning A Degree -- Paying For College : The Challenge For Policy-makers And Academic Leaders -- Entering The Right College -- The Expanding Audience For Higher Education -- What To Learn -- How To Teach -- Prospects For Reform -- Graduate Education. Iii. Professional Education. Medical Schools -- Law Schools -- Business Schools. Iv. Research Publish Or Perish -- The Changing Nature Of Scientific Research -- The Environment For Research. V. A Final Reckoning. Matters Of Genuine Concern -- The Last Word. Derek Bok. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 413-452) And Index. A sweeping assessment of the state of higher education today from former Harvard president Derek Bok Higher Education in America is a landmark work--a comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the current condition of our colleges and universities from former Harvard president Derek Bok, one of the nation's most respected education experts. Sweepingly ambitious in scope, this is a deeply informed and balanced assessment of the many strengths as well as the weaknesses of American higher education today. At a time when colleges and universities have never been more important to the lives and opportunities of students or to the progress and prosperity of the nation, Bok provides a thorough examination of the entire system, public and private, from community colleges and small liberal arts colleges to great universities with their research programs and their medical, law, and business schools. Drawing on the most reliable studies and data, he determines which criticisms of higher education are unfounded or exaggerated, which are issues of genuine concern, and what can be done to improve matters. Some of the subjects considered are long-standing, such as debates over the undergraduate curriculum and concerns over rising college costs. Others are more recent, such as the rise of for-profit institutions and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Additional topics include the quality of undergraduate education, the stagnating levels of college graduation, the problems of university governance, the strengths and weaknesses of graduate and professional education, the environment for research, and the benefits and drawbacks of the pervasive competition among American colleges and universities. Offering a rare survey and evaluation of American higher education as a whole, this book provides a solid basis for a fresh public discussion about what the system is doing right, what it needs to do better, and how the next quarter century could be made a period of progress rather than decline. "At a time when colleges and universities have never been more important to the lives and opportunities of students or to the progress and prosperity of the nation, Bok provides a thorough examination of the entire system, public and private, from community colleges and small liberal arts colleges to great universities with their research programs and their medical, law, and business schools. Drawing on the most reliable studies and data, he determines which criticisms of higher education are unfounded or exaggerated, which are issues of genuine concern, and what can be done to improve matters. Some of the subjects considered are long-standing, such as debates over the undergraduate curriculum and concerns over rising college costs. Others are more recent, such as the rise of for-profit institutions and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Additional topics include the quality of undergraduate education, the stagnating levels of college graduation, the problems of university governance, the strengths and weaknesses of graduate and professional education, the environment for research, and the benefits and drawbacks of the pervasive competition among American colleges and universities. Offering a rare survey and evaluation of American higher education as a whole, this book provides a solid basis for a fresh public discussion about what the system is doing right, what it needs to do better, and how the next quarter century could be made a period of progress rather than decline."-- Provided by publisher Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS Preface to the Revised Edition Acknowledgments Introduction PART I THE CONTEXT Foreword (I) Chapter One The American System of Higher Education Chapter Two Purposes, Goals, and Limits to Growth Chapter Three The Governance of Nonprofit Universities Afterword (I) PART II UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION Foreword (II) Chapter Four Going to College and Earning a Degree Chapter Five Paying for College: The Challenge for Policy-lMakers and Academic Leaders Chapter Six Entering the Right College Chapter Seven The Expanding Audience for Higher Education Chapter Eight What to Learn Chapter Nine How to Teach Chapter Ten Prospects for Reform Afterword (II) Chapter Eleven Graduate Education PART III PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Foreword (III) Chapter Twelve Medical Schools Chapter Thirteen Law Schools Chapter Fourteen Business Schools Afterword (III) PART IV RESEARCH Foreword (IV) Chapter Fifteen “Publish or Perish” Chapter Sixteen The Changing Nature of Scientific Research Chapter Seventeen The Environment for Research Afterword (IV) PART V A FINAL RECKONING Foreword (V) Chapter Eighteen Matters of Genuine Concern The Last Word Notes Index