American Higher Education: Journalistic and Policy Perspectives from 'National CrossTalk'

In the first decade of the 21st century, the nation, the states, and colleges and universities began to grapple with the challenges of globalization, changing demography, the implications of the digital era, and of a less expansive public sector. Although not a transformative period for higher education, the decade saw significant innovations in teaching and learning, intense policy ferment, and debates over the future of colleges and universities and their roles and responsibilities in American society. Parts one and two of this book describe several of the most interesting and significant developments in higher education, and in public policy, reported by leading journalists in the field of higher education. In part three, observers of American higher education comment on critical issues facing colleges and universities, the states and the nation. Most of the chapters appeared in their original form in editions of "National CrossTalk," a publication of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Most of these articles were published between 2000 and 2011. Where appropriate, brief updates of these stories have been appended. The articles selected for this book focus on issues that remain relevant to policy and practice. The chapters describe, explain and interpret key events and issues as they were experienced, observed and debated. Part One, Institutions and Innovations, contains: (1) A Quiet Counterrevolution: St. John's College teaches the classics--and only the classics (Kathy Witkowsky); (2) Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture: For outsiders, the school's unusual practices can be shocking (Kathy Witkowsky); (3) "Plain Living": Berea College makes a commitment to the welfare of its students and its community (Robert A. Jones); (4) An Experiment in Florida: Gulf Coast University tries faculty contracts, no tenure (William Trombley); (5) An Unknown Quantity: Olin College students, faculty and administrators create an innovative new university from scratch (Jon Marcus); (6) New Campus Still Faces Obstacles: After being postponed for a year, UC Merced hopes to open in fall 2005 (William Trombley); (7) Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Newly established University of Minnesota Rochester has a radically different approach to higher education (Kathy Witkowsky); (8) Remote Access: Western Governors University offers "competency-based" higher education, at a distance (Kathy Witkowsky); (9) Indiana's "Eighth University": Western Governors University brings its "competency-based" approach to the Hoosier state (Kathy Witkowsky); (10) A Collaborative for Academic Excellence: El Paso's partnership program boasts impressive gains in student performance (William Trombley); (11) "Early Colleges": Innovative institutions attempt to reshape the transition from high school to college (Ron Feemster); (12) New Teacher Education: Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation program brings change, one state at a time (Susan C. Thomson); (13) Daring to be Different: Rio Salado College has won a reputation as both outcast and innovator (Pamela Burdman); (14) The World's Community College: Diversity in action at LaGuardia (Ron Feemster); (15) The Virginia Plan: State's community colleges confront the need to do more with less (Robert A. Jones); (16) Technological Transformation: An ambitious national effort to use technology more effectively in large introductory university classes (Kay Mills); (17) Math Emporium: The use of technology has changed the way Virginia Tech's introductory math classes are taught (Kay Mills); (18) Redesigning the Basics: Tennessee's community colleges use technology to change their approach to developmental reading and math (Kay Mills); (19) Keeping Them in College: East Carolina University's efforts to improve retention and graduation rates (Don Campbell); (20) Bringing "Dropouts" Back to College: The University of New Mexico's Graduation Project is the first of its kind among the nation's public universities (Robert A. Jones); (21) Where the Boys Aren't: For young males, the drift away from academic achievement is a trend (Robert A. Jones); (22) Charles B. Reed: Cal State chancellor strives to promote quality and diversity in the nation's largest four-year college system (Kathy Witkowsky); (23) The Engaged University: Northern Kentucky University is building closer links to its community (Jon Marcus); and (24) Investing the Stimulus: Metropolitan State College of Denver uses federal funding to reposition itself for the future (Kathy Witkowsky). Part Two, Policy, contains: (25) Does California's Master Plan Still Work? Separate higher education systems pursue different mandates, while participation and graduation rates decline (Pamela Burdman); (26) Performance-Based Budgeting: South Carolina's new plan mired in detail and confusion (William Trombley); (27) "Outcome Funding": Tennessee experiments with a performance-based approach to college appropriations (Robert A. Jones); (28) Colorado's "Grand Experiment": Voucher program could give the state's colleges a new lease on life (Pamela Burdman); (29) Is it a Shell Game? Colorado's controversial new way of handing out its higher education money (Susan C. Thomson); (30) "Truth in Tuition": Illinois' novel answer to skyrocketing rates (Susan C. Thomson); (31) HOPE Springs Eternal: Georgia's scholarship program, a model for the nation, experiences financial pains (Don Campbell); (32) Financial Challenges: Oregon's Opportunity Grant program must overcome new hurdles due to the recession (Kathy Witkowsky); (33) Indiana's 21st Century Scholars: A new community college system and college prep curriculum are improving the state's position (Susan C. Thomson); (34) Ohio's Brain Drain: Reform of public higher education is intended to change perceptions and retain graduates (Jon Marcus); (35) Hard Times: Tuitions rise, services cut, as university officials try to ride out a severe economic downturn (Jon Marcus); (36) Kentucky's Rocky Road: Recent reform legislation produces results, but faces tough challenges (Kay Mills); (37) The "Seamless System": Florida's flurry of dramatic changes in the governance of public education (Jon Marcus); (38) Virginia Tries Restructuring: Financial stress leads to new arrangements between state and campuses (Robert A. Jones); (39) "Effectiveness and Efficiency": The University System of Maryland's campaign to control costs and increase student aid (Kay Mills); (40) Florida's Unnatural Disaster: The state's economic bubble has burst, leaving higher education in a double bind (Jon Marcus); (41) Calamity in California: State's battered budget leads to huge fee increases and less access to public universities (Jon Marcus); (42) Overcrowded and Underfunded: New York's public university systems, and beleaguered students, are an extreme example of national trends (Jon Marcus); (43) Diminishing State Support: Pennsylvania reduces state aid amid relentless tuition hikes and record enrollments (Kay Mills); (44) UK Adopts "Top-Up" Tuition Fees: British Universities prepare to compete in a more "American" system (Jon Marcus); (45) Austerity Measures: Students protest as a cash-strapped government lets British universities triple their fees (Jon Marcus); (46) The Celtic Tiger: Ireland invests heavily in higher education, and benefits mightily (Jon Marcus); and (47) The Presidential Treatment: The Obama administration makes big advances, faces tough challenges, in higher education policy (Jon Marcus). Part Three, Perspectives, contains: (48) An Interview: Clark Kerr (Patrick M. Callan); (49) The Senior Slump: Making the most of high school preparation (Michael W. Kirst); (50) Not Ready for College: States must have a systemic, comprehensive agenda for college preparation (David Spence); (51) Recessions Past and Present: Higher education struggles with state cuts, rising tuitions and a climate of uncertainty (David W. Breneman); (52) An Assessment of Academic Freedom: How anti-terrorism measures have impacted the higher education community (Robert M. O'Neil); (53) An Interview: Derek Bok (Kathy Witkowsky); (54) Killing Academic Freedom Softly: The muzzling of professors who do not enjoy the luxury of tenure (David L. Kirp); (55) An Interview: John Sperling (Carl Irving); (56) The Online Learning Boom: Tailoring college to the needs of working adults (Gene I. Maeroff); (57) College Presidents, or CEOs? Presidential pay is escalating at a time when institutions are cutting budgets (Robert Atwell); (58) The Dark Side of Merit Aid: Funding for merit programs has greatly expanded, often at the expense of need-based financial aid (Donald E. Heller); (59) Changing the Subject: Costs, graduation rates and the importance of rethinking the undergraduate curriculum (Robert Zemsky and Joni Finney); (60) The West Virginia Experience: Creating a sustainable public agenda for higher education (Brian Noland); (61) Application Madness: For many parents, the college admissions process leads to panic (Anne C. Roark); (62) Enduring Values, Changing Concerns: Increasing necessity and declining availability of higher education creates a challenge for many Americans (John Immerwahr); and (63) Making the Middle Class: Don't let the recession fool you--postsecondary education is more valuable than ever (Anthony P. Carnevale and Michelle Melton). An index is included.