Praise for The Innovative University
"This superbly documented book is a must read for anyone who cares about America's universities and colleges and the invaluable role they play in our contemporary society. Henry Eyring and Clayton Christensen remind us of higher education's history and thoughtfully examine the critical strands of its DNA that require 're-engineering' to insure survival and good health for our richly diverse system. Perhaps the best feature of this volume is that it goes beyond analysis to offer what is possible through models that are scalable, transferable, and responsive to the needs of learning, discovery, and engagement."—Molly Corbett Broad, president, American Council on Education
"The Innovative University offers fascinating new perspectives on very old questions: What defines a university's identity? Are all universities cloned from the same ancestral stock? Are there still opportunities for diversity in American higher education, or is [a] single ideal to be approximated with greater or lesser fidelity? These questions resonate through the book's narrative histories of an old university and a bold new one." —Harry Lewis, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University; author, Excellence Without a Soul
"With changing demographics, new information technologies, and competition from for-profit enterprises challenging the hegemony of traditional colleges and universities, the discourse of crisis in American higher education abounds. In place of conventional nostrums that lead merely to incremental change, Henry Eyring and Clayton Christensen offer disruptive strategies that preserve what remains viable in the organizational genetic code while advancing differentiated models for institutional innovation. Yet further evidence that efforts to beat Berkeley and Harvard at their own game are futile." —Michael M. Crow, president, Arizona State University
"There is little doubt that American higher education is at a crossroads. Accessibility and affordability issues abound. Learning outcomes are increasingly unclear. Technology surfaces as a disruptive influence. Financial support is declining precipitously. Christensen and Eyring step into this challenging setting with a comprehensive look at two ends of the higher education universe. The answers their contrasts provide to those of us looking for ways to move forward are both compelling and challenging. A must read for all who care about the future of colleges and universities." —Leonard A. Schlesinger, president, Babson College
Preface vii
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction: Ripe for Disruption—and Innovation xix
Part One: Reframing the Higher Education Crisis
Chapter 1 The Educational Innovator’s Dilemma: Threat of Danger, Reasons for Hope 3
Part Two: The Great American University
Chapter 2 Puritan College 33
Chapter 3 Charles Eliot, Father of American Higher Education 46
Chapter 4 Pioneer Academy 72
Chapter 5 Revitalizing Harvard College 80
Chapter 6 Struggling College 98
Chapter 7 The Drive for Excellence 110
Chapter 8 Four-Year Aspirations in Rexburg 139
Chapter 9 Harvard’s Growing Power and Profile 148
Chapter 10 Staying Rooted 157
Part Three: Ripe for Disruption
Chapter 11 The Weight of the DNA 171
Chapter 12 Even at Harvard 185
Chapter 13 Vulnerable Institutions 192
Chapter 14 Disruptive Competition 206
Part Four: A New Kind of University
Chapter 15 A Unique University Design 223
Chapter 16 Getting Started 238
Chapter 17 Raising Quality 249
Chapter 18 Lowering Cost 276
Chapter 19 Serving More Students 301
Part Five: Genetic Reengineering
Chapter 20 New Models 325
Chapter 21 Students and Subjects 347
Chapter 22 Scholarship 358
Chapter 23 New DNA 379
Chapter 24 Change and the Indispensable University 396
Notes 403
The Authors 445
Innosight Institute 447
Index 449
Anonymous
Posted August 26, 2011
As is typical for Dr. Christensen this is about disruptive innovation in higher education, and though particularly interesting to those of use with graying hair and original wire rim glasses, it may not have wide readership appeal. If you are interested in the history of Harvard College/University (Or Rick's College~~~ BYU-Idaho) this will also have an appeal. The intent was to demonstrate how each succeeded by defining and changing what each school's "DNA" was/is. For those of us in higher education it provides food for thought that is not dissimilar, though more focused on higher education, than earlier works by Dr. C. I originally got the electronic version and now I want the hard copy. One to travel and read and one to write all over the inside and to more easily search..Remember gray hair and wire rims..
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 30, 2011
While this book was heavily promoted as a change agent for the American University, it was in fact a somewhat well-written history and promotional piece for Harvard and BYU-Idaho. Written by authors with deep connections to both schools, it did not deliver on its inferred promise of illustrating change for the American University.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jesseminter
Posted April 7, 2012
Informaative/interesting. It's a manual for higher education to remain relevant in the elearning revolution. Well documented.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 15, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Praise for The Innovative University
"This superbly documented book is a must read for anyone who cares about America's universities and colleges and the invaluable role they play in our contemporary society. Henry Eyring and Clayton Christensen remind us of higher education's history and thoughtfully examine the critical strands of its DNA that require 're-engineering' to insure survival and good health for our richly diverse system. Perhaps the best feature of this volume is that it goes beyond analysis to ...