American public higher education systems include the largest and most impactful colleges and universities in the nation, including 75 percent of the nation's public sector students. While their impact is enormous, they are largely neglected as an area of study and underutilized as an instrument for the improvement of postsecondary outcomes.…

This book examines some of the major higher education reforms and policy shifts globally, particularly in the light of recent shifts in quality and standards-driven education and policy research. It critiques the neo-liberal ideological imperatives of current higher education and policy reforms, and illustrates the way that changes in the…

America's public universities educate 80% of our nation's college students. But in the wake of rising demands on state treasuries, changing demographics, growing income inequality, and legislative indifference, many of these institutions have fallen into decline. Tuition costs have skyrocketed, class sizes have gone up, the number of courses…

A collection of essays, three of which are based on speeches presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), discusses the urban mission of state colleges and universities in relation to current issues in community and economic development. The role of urban colleges and universities has…

This discussion of the state/university relationship addresses the ways in which states and universities can achieve relationships that are constructive for both parties. The following chapters are presented: (1) "Choosing Quality" (includes policy, interest in quality, university role, trends in state/university relationships, and resources); (2)…

Whether or not there will be enough funds available to meet required expenditures has become an annual dilemma for most colleges and universities in recent years. This publication, based on a survey conducted among the 130 member institutions of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), is an attempt to show…

This volume offers personal reflections and professional advice on governing a state university system from the former president of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System Board of Regents, Laurence A. Weinstein. The book is organized into 10 chapters. Chapter I outlines Weinstein's background and his vision of the role of university system…

Public higher educational institutions, where about 80 percent of all college students and 65 percent of all four-year college students are educated, appear to be in serious trouble. In order to delve more deeply into this topic, the author invited a wide-ranging team of experts to examine changes in public higher education over the last quarter…

An educational "'Marshall Plan' form the States," targeted to strengthen public schools and colleges at all levels and in every region of the country, is called for to prepare the American people for life in the 21st century. A number of social, political, economic and educational conditions, including the rising dropout and illiteracy…