Higher Education: An Institution

Ashley Coty
Professor Mozzini
SOC 001

History of the Institution

1.
-

Colonial Divinity Schools

Colleges in the United States began as a
curriculum designed for the education of
Puritan ministers to foster the faith.

2.
-

Public Research Universities

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln passed
an act which allowed for the rapid expansion
of secular institutions.

EARLY 20TH CENTURY

- Economic demands required more
science, and more literate and
skilled employees.

World War II- Diversity

- The G.I. Bill allowed for returning
GIs to go to school, paid for.
- Affirmative action gave more of a
just opportunity to minorities to
attend college.

Perception of Higher Education by Society

According to the Gallup-Lumina Foundations 2014 study on the American Publics
Opinions on Higher Education in America:
1. 80% of Americans surveyed agree that colleges and universities need to change to
better meet the needs of todays students.
2. 13% of Americans surveyed agreed that graduates are well prepared for success in
the workplace.
3. 81% of Americans surveyed prioritize skill and knowledge in the field over the
major taken or institution attended.

How the Institution Has Changed Over Time

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Number of graduates has increased from 24.7% in 1995 to 33.5% in 2012.

There has been a sharp increase in student enrollment.
Diversity has increased, especially by the Affirmative Action.
Housing has improved for students living on campus.
Gender segregation has ended in many higher education facilities.
Faculty are starting to become more part-time and short-term over full-time.
More health services are being offered on campuses (Health centers, counseling
services, Sexual Violence awareness programs).

Courtesy of WorldWideLearn

Cause of Change in Various Institutions

1. The change in the labor demands in the workforce, such as the increase in
demand for science-related careers.
2. The change in Americas economy caused inflation to rise, and because of higher
tuitions, certain people are at disadvantages to enroll.
3. Technology has caused lots of change in education, including the development of
online courses.
4. Changing demographicswith a more diverse culture, naturally college campuses
would eventually become more diverse in themselves.

Stable Features of the Institution

1. The purpose of higher educationto educate studentshas not changed since the
creation of the institution.
2. The emphasis on athletics in higher education facilities has not changed.
3. The stagnant use of tenure that professors are required to adhere to have not
changed (or have changed very little).

How would you improve your institution to better

accommodate society?
1. I would decrease tuition rates and rely more heavily on entrance essays, taking
into account Affirmative Action.
2. I would provide housing for students; less luxurious and more affordable, as a way
to foster the learning experience.
3. We should remove the heavy emphasis on sports, as they have less to do with the
quality of education and more to do with the entertainment of high-paying
donors.
4. Some sort of internship requirement or program with universities being partnered
with businesses so that students will have some sort of experience in their field to
be more ready for success in the workplace.

Review: FUNCTIONALISM
From the functionalist standpoint, the role of higher education in society is more than
just to educate. It is to create more literate, and more skillful workers for many
different industries. Though colleges have changed throughout the years, they still
serve many of the same functions that they we intended to do. Though there is less
religiousness in the body of the students, the function of the schools themselves still
serve to take in students and release them as better, more informed and socially
functional than they were before.

Major Participants; Roles and Statuses

STUDENTS
-

More female students are reported to be

attending college now than male students.
Much of the higher education population is
aged 18-24.

FACULTY
-

Majority are full-time (51%)

Majority are white
Majority are male

Roles and statuses vary greatly with the increasing diversity, but generally there
is a perceived rise in social prestige when attending or teaching at higher
education institutions.

Does this institution work better for some members of

society?
Because of the high cost and lack of
immediate financial reward, the institution of
higher education works better for those in the
middle-to-upper class standing. Working class
members may find a harder time affording
and attending colleges compared to those in
the upper class. Low-income students have a
lower level of college completion due to the
disadvantage they face with their finances.
Courtesy of: money.cnn.com

Review: CONFLICT THEORY

The fact that the institution of higher education works better for those in the upper
class than it does for those in the lower classes says a lot; and it ties in tightly with the
conflict theory. The inequalities posed by our education system run through
generations, and though our system makes attempts to help the lower classes get more
education, it is difficult to break away from the cycle. Outside and other forces compel
the inequalities to strive and keep the working class oppressed by denying them the
same opportunities for education as the elite.

WORKS CITED
"Fast Facts." Fast Facts. National Center for Education Statistics, n.d. Web. 22 July 2016.
Diamond, Robert M. "Why Colleges Are So Hard to Change | Inside Higher Ed." Insidehighered.com. Inside Higher Ed., 8 Sept. 2006.
Web. 22 July 2016.
Kaufman, Clare. "The History of Higher Education in the United States."WorldWideLearn. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July 2016.
Kingkade, Tyler. "Decade Of Change For College Students: Less Religious, More Diverse And Lonely." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 May 2015. Web. 22 July 2016.
"New Study on the American Public's Perception of Higher Ed." Education Design Lab. N.p., 05 May 2015. Web. 22 July 2016.
Rampell, Catherine. "Data Reveal a Rise in College Degrees Among Americans." The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 June
2013. Web. 22 July 2016.
Scott, Kassie, and Washington and Lee University. "Over the Last 70 Years, the College Experience Has Changed... a Lot." USA TODAY
College. N.p., 28 July 2015. Web. 22 July 2016.
Witt, Jon. "Education and Religion." SOC 2014. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015. pp 186, 248. Print.