The thoroughly updated second edition of this dynamic and thoughtful collection focuses on the issues that have shaped American higher education in the past decade. "Essential Documents in the History of American Higher Education," designed to be used alongside John R. Thelin's "A History of American Higher Education" or on its…

Congress should establish an initiative to designate 20 institutions of higher education as "U.S. Manufacturing Universities" as part of a needed push to strengthen the position of the United States in the increasingly innovation-driven global economy. In 1862, Congress passed the Morrill Act, which established land-grant colleges to…

One might think that a global financial crisis would be no time for college and university presidents to think expansively. Hunkering down is the more natural reaction to a threat of the magnitude that the economy continues to present. But expansive thought is exactly what higher education leaders need right now--not necessarily the kind that…

"Research Universities and the Future of America" presents critically important strategies for ensuring that our nation's research universities contribute strongly to America's prosperity, security, and national goals. Widely considered the best in the world, our nation's research universities today confront significant financial…

The act of July 2, 1862, "donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," led to the establishment of a group of higher institutions, at least one in each State, having direct relations with the Federal Government and dedicated to a common…

Acts by State legislatures affecting schools, colleges, and universities during 1933 and 1934 are reviewed herein. During this biennium the legislature of every State had one or more legislative sessions; all of them except Alabama had regular sessions. In approximately three-fourths of the States special sessions of the legislature were called.…