The impact of topics, trends, and events of during the 1970 to 2000 era on higher education

 Guided Response: Analyze two of your classmates’ posts and make suggestions regarding some of the challenges and issues, such as mass education access and student diversity during the time period from 1970 to 2000.  Provide insights about these topics to extend their thinking.

Amanda Baker

Discuss the impact of topics, trends, and events of during the 1970 to 2000 era on higher education. Explain the components that contributed to the “Coming of Age” in American higher education. What were the main issues during this time period? Do you feel that higher education institutions solved most of the issues of this era? Why or why not?

The rapid advancement of technology was what ultimately sets the era of the 1970s through the year 2000 apart from all others that we have studied. With computers now in the classroom and teaching shifting from pen and paper to digital mediums everything was different. Through time, technology brought shifting from typewriters to computers, from card catalogs to digital categorizing, from chalkboards to projectors. The list simply goes on and can be exhaustive to look into. With these great advances in resources, came greater responsibilities for all involved. Instructors were able to interact meaningfully with students and parents and/or guardians. Parents were expected to invest more time in the learning experience. Leaders and figure-heads were able to look into the existing collegiate model and see where changes needed to be made to the curriculum.

Students were no longer flocking to colleges because they simply existed. They wanted an experience that was well rounded. They wanted to have equality on all fronts and greater control over what they were learning. The drop in enrollment during this era was because of an initial reluctance to recognize the changing perspective of students and students felt their needs were not being met. Once there were financial losses and large numbers of students dropping out, higher educational institutions realized they needed to adapt. In addition to wanting equality and more control over their studies, students wanted to be able to afford to go to school. Government programs were solidified at this point and students were able to gain scholarships, loans, and grants to fund their education. This access essentially boosted morale and students saw a point to returning to school and trying to better their future. These issues have been improved upon greatly, but still need some fleshing out.

Beyond the year 2000, issues have shifted and soon, they will need to be revisited once again. But for that time, colleges did their best to resolve their issues and did with great success.

Anthony Patrick

Discuss the impact of topics, trends, and events of during the 1970 to 2000 era on higher education. Explain the components that contributed to the “Coming of Age” in American higher education. What were the main issues during this time period? Do you feel that higher education institutions solved most of the issues of this era? Why or why not?

One of the major topics that were a pressing issue during this time period was the concern of the quality of American Education. Shortly years before, education in America was reaching high numbers and breaking records of enrollment statistics. However, in the mid-1970s people started to question the quality of the education students in higher education institution are receiving. According to the text, society wanted a fresh look at the American college experience. It was no longer acceptable to hold a have standard of commercialized appeal, but to generate change to the educational system that brings about equality in all minority groups, and promotes a strong competitive education (Thelin, 2011). Another event contributed to this time period was the financial support by the government. Aside from the GI bill, that mainly provided veterans and military personnel with access to post-secondary education, the federal government installed the Pell Grant program and other subsided federal aid. These federal aid programs allow more people access to higher education.

Reference

Thelin, John R. (2011) A History of American Higher Education. Johns Hopkins University Press. Kindle Edition.