Understanding Institutional Diversity in American Higher Education: ASHE Higher Education Report, 39:3(J-B ASHE Higher Education Report Series (AEHE))

Institutional diversity serves as one of the fundamental hallmarks of American higher education. After a long history of support for many institutional types, the past 40 years have seen a decline in institutional variety. Through a discussion of history, theoretical contexts, and causes of homogenization, this monograph examines how higher education policymakers and leaders can strengthen institutional mission and preserve the benefits of institutional diversity. Higher education needs to serve a variety of functions for students, from liberal arts education to vocational training programs. No single institution or institutional type can adequately fulfill all of these roles, and this monograph considers the rewards and challenges of maintaining a healthy, beneficial diversity. It also covers the roles, purposes, trials, and benefits of institutional diversity. It provides practical examples and theoretical perspectives useful in understanding the complexities of higher education systems and the external pressures faced by colleges and universities that challenge institutional mission and threaten institutional diversity and its well-established benefits for students and society. This is the third issue of the 39th volume of the Jossey-Bass series ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education issue, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.

Table of Contents:
Executive Summary vii Foreword xi Defining Institutional Diversity 1 Aspects of Institutional Diversity 4 Diversity Versus Diversification Versus Differentiation 9 Interactions With the Environment 12 Overview of the Monograph 14 Historical Context of Institutional Diversity 17 Growth During the Colonial Period 18 Establishing American Higher Education 19 Failure of the National University Idea 20 Institution Building 23 The Changing Curriculum 24 Rise of the Research University 25 Transition From Elite to Mass Higher Education 28 The Postwar Period 31 Conclusion 35 Theoretical Contexts 37 Population Ecology 37 Resource Dependency Th eory 42 Institutional Theory 44 Conclusion 48 Benefits of Institutional Diversity 49 Meeting the Needs of All Types of Students 49 Increased Institutional Effectiveness 51 Provide Models 54 Support Reform Th rough Competition 55 Serve the Political Needs of Interest Groups 57 Protecting Academic Freedom and Autonomy 58 Support Elite and Mass Higher Education 61 Improve Social Mobility 62 Minority-Serving Institutions 64 Conclusion 67 Causes of Homogenization 69 Academic Drift 70 Prestige-Maximizing Activities 73 Statewide Coordination 79 Conclusion 82 The Future of Institutional Diversity Research and Practice 83 Market Smart and Mission Centered 84 Policymakers 85 Campus Leaders and Administrators 89 Faculty 92 Students 94 Conclusion 95 References 97 Name Index 111 Subject Index 116 About the Author 121

About the Author :
MICHAEL S. HARRIS is associate professor of higher education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.