Colleges and Universities Books

An excellent combination of essays covering the spectrum of differing views on postmodernity, which is described in the book to be an important shift in the western culture comparable with the Renaissance. The preface material at the start of each part of the book does a great job of preparing the lay reader for the overall argument in the essays that follow. A warning though, many of the essays require some familiarity with basic "traditional" philosophical ideas and terms.

In recent years, fewer than ten percent of the applicants to Yale University are admitted. Amongst those rejected are applicants with perfect SAT's and stellar grades. These accomplishments are not necessarily determinative as to whether an applicant is admitted. Yale's stated goal is to choose the applicants who are most likely to become the nation's future leaders. This is a lofty proposition and for the most part, Yale has been very successful in achieving its goal.

Joseph Soares' "The Privilege of Power" chronicles Yale's changing admission policies from the 1920's to the present. From the very beginning, Yale has had more qualified applicants than it has spaces for new students. As an institution, it has had to maintain its high standards while balancing competing demands from its faculty and alumni. As much history as sociology, this well written book covers such important events as Yale's Jewish quota, the advent of needs blind admissions, the recruitment of minority students and the arrival of women on Yale's campus in the early 1970's.

Of special interest is Soares' description of the economic model which drives the admission's process. In order to remain financially healthy, Yale needs sixty percent of its admits to be able to pay the full tuition price. Although while Yale has a needs blind admission policy, it understands that high SAT scores are directly linked to high socioeconomic status. Yale has the ability to seek out the nation's future leaders because it knows it has a core constituency of elite parents that are willing to spend over $40,000 a year to send their children to a prestigious college.

"The Power of Privilege" is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Yale University. This book also provides invaluable insights into the economic drivers that shape the admission's policies of our nation's elite universities. Highly recommended.

The American civil rights movement of the 1960s and affirmative action programs of the 70s held promise for people of color and those in American higher education: eleven essays consider the status of these groups in the 20th century and beyond, describing individual minority and female experiences in academe. A range of professionals contribute their experiences and insights on obstacles in this revealing coverage.

Unfortunately this book is out of print, which makes it difficult to find, but it is worth the trouble of finding a copy. I know there is a lot of grad school survival information out there. This one is exceptional for it's comprehensive scope, timelessness, and succinctness. It is directed towards those students who would be conducting a project or a thesis, but generally it applies.

Iris captures the reality of the importance of a ture partnership between not just the presidents,the trustees but also the importance of getting the commuity involded.

Dickeson's book is a comprehensive manual for academic administrators at all levels who need to maximize resources because of cutbacks. Since the most likely source for needed resources is reallocation of existing resources, he suggests a means to prioritize programs so administrators can make well-informed decisions. Dickeson's ideas have a firm basis in practical applicaitons. He has served as a university president and is currently president of a consulting firm that has guided hundreds of colleges and universities through program prioritization. This book contains checklists at all stages of the planning process plus samples of actual priortizing plans and is a very useful resource not only at the institutional level but for any program undergoing review.

The Commission on the Future of Higher Education challenges colleges and universities to focus on the success of their teaching. Many of the public universities will now be challenged to survive in the same form, as the authors suggest. Two alternate futures emerge--colleges and universities responsive to the needs of students and public, or privatization of higher education. This book is one of the very few that look at these alternatives and document the historical trends that create the current impasse. Good reading, especially for investors who may want to buy a college or university.

Holt studies Jamaica,from the emanicpation of the slaves to the labor problems faced by ex-slaves in the 1930s. But the narrow focus is misleading - really Holt writes about "the problem of freedom:" the tast of socializing ex-slaves into becoming productive laborers - the problem of convincing freedpeople that it's in their best interest to labor for tiny wages, for the profit of the wealthy. Another major focus is the inherent contradictions of classical liberalism - economic freedom does and always has required brutal and blatent inequalities in the political and social spheres.

Certainly not everyone will agree with Holt, but his argumentation and analysis are impeccable. If you believe that self-determination and free enterprise are practically the same thing - or if you think that capitalism and democracy are one and the same - you must read Holt's book.

Compiled and edited by Stephen R. Haynes (A. B. Curry Chair of Religious Studies at Rhodes College), Professing In The Postmodern Academy: Faculty And The Future Of Church-Related Colleges is a collection of learned essays studying religiously affiliated collegiate institutions in America, as perceived through the observations of faculty members committed to the future of such institutions of higher learning. Exploring educational opportunities in postmodern times, Biblical conflicts that affect day-to-day teaching, the intersection between mission and curriculum, and a great deal more, Professing In The Postmodern Academy is an informative, thoughtful, question-raising study which is highly recommended reading -- especially for all who attend or contribute to a religious college.

Enjoyed the read with its easy format and quotes, and practical points that we must take some steps to enhance the US university education process to stay competitive and refocus on the student education side versus such research only focus. Crucial to keeping the US competitive over the next decade plus.

highly recommend reading this.