Dynamics of the Contemporary University - Growth, Accretion, and Conflict (Hardcover, New)

This book is an expanded version of the Clark Kerr Lectures of 2012, delivered by Neil Smelser at the University of California at Berkeley in January and February of that year. The initial exposition is of a theory of change - labeled structural accretion - that has characterized the history of American higher education, mainly (but not exclusively) of universities. The essence of the theory is that institutions of higher education progressively add functions, structures, and constituencies as they grow, but seldom shed them, yielding increasingly complex structures. The first two lectures trace the multiple ramifications of this principle into other arenas, including the essence of complexity in the academic setting, the solidification of academic disciplines and departments, changes in faculty roles and the academic community, the growth of political constituencies, academic administration and governance, and academic stratification by prestige. In closing, Smelser analyzes a number of contemporary trends and problems that are superimposed on the already-complex structures of higher education, such as the diminishing public support without alterations of governance and accountability, the increasing pattern of commercialization in higher education, the growth of distance-learning and for-profit institutions, and the spectacular growth of temporary and part-time faculty.

General

Imprint:	University of California Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	The Clark Kerr Lectures On the Role of Higher Education in Society, 3
Release date:	March 2013
First published:	2013
Authors:	Neil J Smelser
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Cloth over boards
Pages:	152
Edition:	New
ISBN-13:	978-0-520-27581-2
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > General Books > Social sciences > Education > Higher & further education > Universities / polytechnics Books > History > History of specific subjects > General
LSN:	0-520-27581-0
Barcode:	9780520275812

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