The Modern Land-Grant University

by Robert J. Sternberg

Overview

In an increasingly competitive higher education environment, Americas public universities are seeking ways to differentiate themselves. This book suggests that a hopeful vision of what a university should be lies in a reexamination of the land-grant mission, the common system of values originally set forth in the Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, which established a new system of practically oriented higher learning across the United States. While hard to define, these values are often expressed by the one hundred or so institutions that currently define themselves as land grants under the three pillars of research, teaching, and engagement/extension.

In order to understand the unique character of a modern land-grant institution, this book focuses especially but not exclusively on the multiple components of a single organization, Oklahoma State University, founded in 1890 and currently enrolling 35,000 students across five campuses. Contributors from across the university focus on what the land-grant mission means to them in their daily endeavors, whether that be crafting the undergraduate academic experience, stimulating research, or engaging with the community through extension activities. The twenty contributions are divided into four parts, exploring in turn the core mission of the modern land-grant university, the university environment, the universitys public value, and its accountability. The volume ends with an epilogue by the editor, which summarizes the values underlying the activities of land-grant institutions.

In a time of uncertainty in higher education, this volume provides a helpful overview of the many different types of value public universities bring to American society. It also offers a powerful vision of a future founded on land-grant ideas that will be inspiring to university administrators and trustees, other educational policymakers, and faculty and staff, especially those fortunate enough to be part of land-grant institutions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557536778
Publisher:	Purdue University Press
Publication date:	11/15/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	444
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Robert J. Sternberg is professor of Human Development at Cornell University. He was previously president of the University of Wyoming and past president of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences and also of the American Psychological Association. Before moving to Wyoming, he was provost and senior vice president of Oklahoma State University, where this book was conceived. Previously, he was dean of arts and sciences at Tufts University and IBM professor of psychology and education and professor of management at Yale University.

Table of Contents

Preface Robert J. Sternberg vii

Part I The Core Mission of the Modern Land-Grant University

1 History and Mission Charles I. Abramson W. Stephen Damron Michael Dicks Peter M. A. Sherwood 3

2 Teaching and Learning Melanie C. Page Lacy E. Bailey Hong Lin Sue C. Jacobs Belinda Bruner 15

3 Research and Other Scholarship D. Alan Tree 35

4 Service, Cooperative Extension, and Community Engagement Jorge H. Atiles Chris Jenkins Patricia Rayas-Duarte Randal K. Taylor Hailin Zhang 59

Part II The University Environment of the Modern Land-Grant University

5 Diversity Sue C. Jacobs Belinda Bruner Shelia M. Kennison Jeff J. Simpson 85

6 Undergraduate Academic Experience Jeremy D. Penn John D. Hathcoat Sungah Kim 109

7 Liberal Studies, Undergraduate Curriculum, and the Land-Grant Idea Pamela Martin Fry 135

8 Graduate Academic Experience Jean Van Delinder Sheryl Ann Tucker 153

9 Honors Colleges and Competitive Fellowship Programs Robert Spurrier Robert E. Graalman Jr. 169

10 Campus Life Matthew S. Brown Jovette R. Dew 185

11 The Library in the Modern Land-Grant University Sheila Grant Johnson Mary A. Larson Anne M. Prestamo Bonnie Ann Cain-Wood M. Robin Leech Johnny L. Johnson 203

12 Athletics Ry Marcattilio-McCracken Kyle Tatroult James R. Knecht Marilyn Middlebrook 203

Part III The Public Value of the Modern Land-Grant University

13 Economic Development Steven C. Price Ron D. Duggins Stephen W. S. McKeever 249

14 Fostering Human Capital and Human Potential J. Shone Robinson Whitney A. Bailey 273

15 Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Michael H. Mortis Melanie C. Page Mary Ruppert-Stroescu Diane Montgomery 285

16 Role of the Arts Jean Van Delinder Betty Ann Sisson 301

17 Wisdom and Ethics Eric Reitan Scott D. Gelfand R. Steven Harrist 315

Part IV Accountability of the Modern Land-Grant University

18 Promotion and Tenure Tami L. Moore Timm J. Bliss Dale R. Fuqua Brandt C. Gardner 333

19 Role of Institutional Rankings Laura L.B. Barnes Christie Hawkins 347

20 Financing and Fiscal Accountability Robert E. Dixon Mary D. Bryans Robert J. Lofton Kathy Kamm Elliott Robert M. Klein Suzanne McNatt Jeffrey B. Walters Carmen E. Tetik David Loyless Lisa M. Faulkner 365

Epilogue: Values Underlying the Activities of Land-Grant Universities Robert J. Sternberg 383

Contributors 393

Index 409

Editorial Reviews

"Our nation needs to broaden what ‘greatness’ in a university means. At the very least, we need to expand our conception of greatness to a multidimensional notion, not just a notion of unidimensional rankings, which appear in certain magazines. Land-grant institutions, contrary to some popular beliefs, are not merely about agricultural development, but rather about changing the world in a positive, meaningful, and enduring way. Land-grant institutions perhaps best represent the very core of what greatness means in American society—namely, equal opportunity for all and, through it, the chance to make our society and the world a better place in which to live." Robert J. Sternberg, from the Preface

From the Publisher