American Higher Education: A History

The roots of controversy surrounding higher education in the United States extend deep into the past. This fresh, incisive history provides needed perspective on current debates over such educational issues as access, costs, academic quality, social equity, and curricula. The fundamental crisis facing academe in the United States today, the author argues, derives from the enduring confusion over the meaning and purpose of higher learning itself. Eminently readable and always lively, this timely historical account is sure to prove itself an invaluable resource for assessing the present condition and future prospects of American colleges and universities.