Ethnicity or race plays an important, and frequently discriminatory and divisive, role in the development of higher education in the United States. From the foundings of both private and public colleges and universities to the conception of what constitutes a liberal education, from the formulation of student admission policies to faculty appointment and research, race is an ever-present concern and decisive factor. The difficulty in establishing courses in ethnic and women studies since 1960s is a one such example and the decision of the Regents of the University of California to abolish affirmative action on July 20, 1995 is another example.
The project consists in researching the role of race and ethnicity in the development of higher education from both the historical and contemporary perspectives. Of particular interest is the role of race & ethnicity in (a) the University curriculum and research, (b) admission policy, and (c) faculty appointment, and how these three major areas of higher education have been affected by the historic transformations of higher education in the U.S. The experiences of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans in these areas may be compared with the experience of European Americans (especially males).
Students must critically analyze the origin, mission, and development of ethnic studies in higher education within the context of traditional liberal education. Minority access (admission and enrollments) is to be examined from the point of view of the historic transformations and continuing stratification of higher education by race, sex, and class with special attention given to the development, functions, and governance of the three-tier system of higher education in California and the rise of meritocracy and affirmative action admissions policies. Finally, the status of minority and women faculty should be examined in terms of their recruitment, retention, and promotion and of such notions as pipeline, availability pool, and affirmative action.
SOME SUGGESTED SUBTOPICS AND SOURCES:
I. DISCRIMINATION & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Nature & Functions of Higher Education and the
Role of Liberal Education
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