-
First Institution Established
Establishment of the first institution Harvard College:
The establishment of Harvard is an important event because it was the first. They were seen as the big brother of many institutions in terms of model, curriculum, structure, and schedule. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony agreed to establish Harvard’s committee of overseers as the initial first governing body. Members included the governor, treasurer, and other important members, who were not a governing board but rather a committee which hired the first president of the institution. -
Admission Changes
Yale made changes in their admissions procedures and Princeton and Kings College followed shortly after. Not in terms of official written testing but adding requirements of study to be examined orally by tutor or president of a college. Beginning to add pre-requisites to the admissions process. -
Opening of the College of Rhode Island (Brown University)
When the College of Rhode Island known now as Brown University opened in 1765, only one student enrolled. Ten years later enrollment reached ten. -
1771 Harvard Graduating Class
Harvard, the largest college graduated 64 students. While this number seems low for Harvard, it is showing the progression in the importance of college and how numbers began to increase -
Doctor who?
New Jersey limited the right for an individual by law to have the title Doctor which was the only colony at this point in history. -
Rapid Institutional Expansion
1790 Marked the beginning of the growth in the number of institutions as well as the type of institutions offered. -
Louisiana Purchase
Soon after the Louisiana Purchase the nation doubled in size. This is an important time in history for growth, land, and educational opportunity. -
Not your traditional finishing school
First Teacher Finishing School was established in Vermont. School for young women. Beginning of a new waive for women and education! Most finishing schools were designed for women to learn homemaking, manners, and grace rather than a profession. -
Alumni Donors
Yale organized a society of alumni, which contributed over the next few years upwards of $100,000. Funding is becoming more important and using alumni is a strategic plan for continued contributions. -
College Census
Census showed there were 173 colleges. Expansion continues! As noted throughout this time period, there were no regulations unlike today, and with it being so easy to form colleges they were popping up left and right. It was thought that to make a community complete it needed a college, as we know from history during this point in history our population expanded and the need for more land and communities were apparent- this in return gives reason to the amount of colleges being established. -
Michigan University
Michigan University opened in 1841, as we can see there is very much of a trend going on here! New establishments made easy due to little regulations, however, the struggle and expectations were very much an issue during this time. -
Collegiate Degrees
At least 45 institution offered collegiate degrees to women. Often called “college”, “academy”, “female seminary”, or a “Literary institute” -
Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862
Morrill Land Grant Act was passed. Act in which allows land to be donated for the establishment of colleges specializing in programs such as agriculture -
Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
Yale had become the mold for others with the idea of four-year curriculum. Students began affiliating by class; Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors much as we know them today. -
Professional Schools
The formation of “professional schools” the dynamics of the formation of the institution, to curriculum, hiring of faculty, creating different schools/programs, and incorporating exams and admissions requirements throughout the evolution of different schools is complex and so very important because of the high volume of institutions, schools must begin to strive for the best students and be as marketable as possible. -
College Entrance Examination Board
College Entrance Examination Board established in order to begin the process of testing and admission requirements into the student portfolio/process. -
Association of American Universities
Formation of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1900. The AAU represented a formal response to concerns about standards and standardization.
Soon thereafter the 12 universities and 3 schools founded and formed College Entrance Examination
Board, a private voluntary “Association committed to creating reliable, standard college admissions tests.”
(Thelin 147). -
GI Bill
The GI Bill gave veterans the opportunity of education after war when in most cases there was no path/career for them after the military. -
GI Bill Enrollments
GI Bill enrollments surpassed one million. Important to note, because at this point veterans were taking advantage of the bill and getting an education. -
“Why, this is how I always thought a college should look!”
Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Dartmouth and stated, “Why, this is how I always thought a college should look!” The idea of brick structures, buildings surrounded by grass, with the academic feel and comfort. Much like the colleges founded before, 1781, like Harvard, Brown, and Yale to name a few had the prestige and academic look that was appealing, much like institutions architecture is in present day. -
Learning and Living
Harvard College described their campus environment as a place where “students lived together in the college building in constant contact with their teachers. They worked and played together, creating the very special kind of community which has been characteristic of the American residential college ever since.” (Thelin p.7) Institutions began following Harvard’s model and played a role in present day education/experiences. -
Civil Rights Act
Civil Rights Act in my opinion one of the most important milestones within our nations history. The fight for equal rights for all in education. -
Higher Education Act
Higher Education Act of 1965 put into place in order to strengthen resources for students financially attending college through grants, loans, and scholarships. -
Tenure-track Opportunities
As the job market began to dry up in all but a few fields, a new Ph.D from a well-known and prestigious university typically received three to four tenure-track job offers. As we know today, tenure-track opportunities are very difficult and individuals move all over the country to find an opening, but also one that is a good fit for their research. -
Appeal of Community College
Increased interested in community with open admission, they were able to accommodate a rage of students. Starting out many individuals find the a community college is the right fit for them and financially it also can be more appealing. -
Title IX in education
No person be excluded from the participation, denied benefits, or be discriminated because of their sex. -
Tuition on the Rise
Brown tuition and expenses for one year were rising to $10,000 ($18,900 in 2000 dollars). As we are all very well aware of, tuition increasing (more than likely) yearly. Resources begin to be stretched and financial support from tuition expense must rise to meet institutional need. -
Stock Market Crash
"Buying the best" spread through institutions in search for top students and faculty, but unfortunately when the economy crashes individuals and institutions must cut back. Along with the crash came the drop in state revenue in 1989. -
Women's success in education
In 1997-1998 women accounted for 43 percent of all professional degrees conferred. "Within that broad category, women received 45 percent of law degrees. 42 percent of the medical degrees, 38 percent of the dental degrees, and 66 percent of the veterinary medicine degrees." (Thelin 346) As noted throughout history, women were not always close to men in education. As stated above women are certainly on the rise and opportunity is much more available than early on in history. -
War on Terror
On September 11th, 2001 our nation endured a major shift in policy after the 911 attacked on the United States, as we declared a War on Terror. Which with the unfortunate concept of war, it has proved to be costly for our government, financially impacting our nation but also our educational system with restrictions being placed on individuals seeking access to universities from other countries. -
Diversity
Role of diversity within an institution shoes, “student body diversity is a compelling state interest that can justify the use of race in university admissions” giving light to the importance of diversity within education, the university and to an educational mission. -
Female Faculty Members
Women’s representation on college faculty gained movement when it increased from 40 percent in 1995 to 45 percent in 2005. Showing the gains opportunity for women throughout history in education from the classroom to instructor. -
Number of awarded degrees is on the high!
• 1.5 million bachelor’s degrees
• 682,000 MS and professional degrees
• 56,000 doctorate degrees Amazing progression from the start of the History of Higher Education. As history shows, the number of institutions, faculty, and students has greatly increased and continue to show importance to many individuals and professions. -
Unemployment
Unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, the highest it ever was since 1982. Individuals were in debt, even if they had a degree or not. With the impact on the economy there were no jobs to support graduates, which led to the impact on businesses, education, and individuals to say the least.
