The Future of Higher Education: Rhetoric, Reality, and the Risks of the Market

This groundbreaking book-- funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Ford Foundation-- focuses on the changes currently taking place in higher education. It shows how to think about and implement policy and institutional strategy in light of these changes, and what the higher education community must do to keep from drifting away from its basic compact with the public. Addresses timely issues including changing student demographics, a growing demand from business and industry for graduates with more advanced skills. A powerful look at the risks inherent in the trend toward making higher education a market rather than a regulated public sector, The Future of Higher Education reveals the findings of an extensive four-year investigation into the major forces that are transforming our American system of higher education. The book explores the challenges of intensified competition among institutions, globalization of colleges and universities, the expansion of the new for-profit and virtual institutions, and the influence of technology on learning. This important resource offers college and university leaders and policy makers an analysis of the impact of these forces of change and includes suggestions for creating an effective higher education market as well as a call for a renewed focus on the public purposes of higher education.