Format:
Book
Author:
Bowen, William G.
Title:
Equity and excellence in American higher education / William G. Bowen, Martin A. Kurzweil, and Eugene M. Tobin ; in collaboration with Susanne C. Pichler.
Edition:
1st pbk. ed.
Publisher, Date:
Charlottesville : University of Virginia Press, 2006.
Description:
xvi, 453 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Summary:
Thomas Jefferson once stated that the foremost goal of American education must be to nurture the "natural aristocracy of talent and virtue." Although in many ways American higher education has fulfilled Jefferson's vision by achieving a widespread level of excellence, it has not achieved the objective of equity implicit in Jefferson's statement. In Equity and Excellence in American Higher Education, William G. Bowen, Martin A. Kurzweil, and Eugene M. Tobin explore the cause for this divide. Employing historical research, examination of the most recent social science and public policy scholarship, international comparisons, and detailed empirical analysis of rich new data, the authors study the intersection between "excellence" and "equity" objectives. Beginning with a time line tracing efforts to achieve equity and excellence in higher education from the American Revolution to the early Cold War years, this narrative reveals the halting, episodic progress in broadening access across the dividing lines of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The authors argue that despite our rhetoric of inclusiveness, a significant number of youth from poor families do not share equal access to America's elite colleges and universities. While America has achieved the highest level of educational attainment of any country, it runs the risk of losing this position unless it can markedly improve the precollegiate preparation of students from racial minorities and lower-income families. After identifying the "equity" problem at the national level and studying nineteen selective colleges and universities, the authors propose a set of potential actions to be taken at federal, state, local, and institutional levels. With recommendations ranging from reform of the admissions process, to restructuring of federal financial aid and state support of public universities, to addressing the various precollegiate obstacles that disadvantaged students face at home and in school, the authors urge all selective colleges and universities to continue race-sensitive admissions policies, while urging the most selective (and privileged) institutions to enroll more well-qualified students from families with low socioeconomic status. - Publisher.
Series:
Thomas Jefferson Foundation distinguished lecture series
Thomas Jefferson Foundation distinguished lecture series.
Subjects:
Educational equalization -- United States.
Discrimination in higher education -- United States.
Universities and colleges -- United States -- Admission.
Other Author:
Kurzweil, Martin A., 1980-
Tobin, Eugene M.
Pichler, Susanne C., 1966-
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (p. [393]-428) and index.
Contents:
List of figures -- List of tables -- Acknowledgments -- ch. 1. Framework and road map -- pt. 1. Where we have been and where we are now -- ch. 2. An equity and excellence time line -- ch. 3. In pursuit of excellence -- ch. 4. Equity on a national level : socioeconomic status and race -- ch. 5. The "elite" schools : engines of opportunity or bastions of privilege? -- pt. 2. Where we want to go : policy issues -- ch. 6. Race in American higher education : the future of affirmative action -- ch. 7. Broadening the quest for equity at the institutional level : socioeconomic status, admissions preferences, and financial aid -- ch. 8. Government support of higher education -- ch. 9. Improving college preparedness -- ch. 10. Concluding thoughts -- Appendix A : Equity and excellence in higher education : the case of the University of Cape Town / Ian Scott, Nan Yeld, Janice McMillan, and Martin Hall -- Appendix B : Preferences based on socioeconomic status : methodological notes -- Appendix tables -- Notes -- References -- Index.
Web Site:
Table of contents Web Link
LCCN:
2007271299
ISBN:
0813925576 (pbk. : alk. paper)
9780813925578 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Other Number:
71260045
System Availability:
1
Current Holds:
0
# Local items:
1
Control Number:
779915
Call Number:
379.2 B786
Course Reserves:
0
# Local items in:
1
# System items in:
1