Synopses & Reviews
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 a: d 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.
Review
"Everyone who cares about opportunity in the United States should read this book. With careful analysis and valuable new data, the authors examine the chances for low-income Americans to attend college and offer some unexpected findings and thoughtful suggestions for reform." Derek Bok
Review
"The authors display a rare gift for combining analytical sophistication and accessible writing. Higher education could not wish for better 'critical friends' than these authors." Mike McPherson, President, The Spencer Foundation
Review
"[This book] should be compulsory reading for all interested in higher education and in social justice." S. J. Saunders, Professor Emeritus at the University of Cape Town