The Quiet Crisis : How Higher Education Is Failing America

Behind America s "success data" in higher education looms a significant problem of educational failure defined, not by individual capacity, but largely by race and economic level, as well as learning style. As a result, millions of people of all incomes and races fail to thrive in our institutions, not because they lack the capacity to learn, but because colleges and universities lack the capacity to educate. In this groundbreaking work, Peter Smith exposes this hidden crisis in American higher education and makes recommendations for its transformation. He argues, clearly and forcefully, that our schools are organized for failure and that our historic "industrial model" simply won t make the grade in the 21st century. Drawing on the author s personal experiences as a policymaker and administrator in higher education over the last 30 years, this book will appeal not only to teaching faculty and academic administrators, but also to political leaders, parents, and anyone who cares about the future of the academy. Contents include: Part One: The Quiet Crisis The Opportunity Promise Universities as Learning Organizations Breaking the Model: From Storied Tradition to Valued Position. Part Two: The Emergence of a New Learning Ethos Lived Experience: The Root of Learning Personal Learning, Reflection, and Growth Diversity: The Tie That Binds From Wishes to Wireless. Part Three: FutureThink A New Mainstream Quality in the Learning Age A Policy Framework for the 21st Century