American higher education has long enjoyed intricate partnerships with government and society, but in recent decades, those have frayed. Thorp and Goldstein offer penetrating insights about the challenges faced as well as a comprehensive prescription for a new and enduring compact."—Mary Sue Coleman, president, Association of American Universities



U.S. higher education critics complain that tuitions are too high, while students are terrified they will have too much debt without the twenty-first-century job skills to pay it off. Thorp and Goldstein argue convincingly that innovation and entrepreneurial approaches can reengineer, reenergize, and reposition the sector to be the undisputed best in the world."—Michael L. Lomax, president & CEO, United Negro College Fund



American higher education faces significant challenges, but they are not insurmountable. In this book, Holden Thorp and Buck Goldstein dispel myths and recommend solutions that must be taken seriously. A degree from an American university is still the envy of the world. The ideas shared in this book show how that can remain true in the future."—Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande, serial entrepreneur and Life Member, MIT Corporation



Clearly and appealingly written, this book is an important call for universities to reimagine their partnerships with society. Thorp and Goldstein combine the benefits of their own deep experience with interviews with key educational figures and offer insight on nearly every major issue facing universities today. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end."—Christopher Newfield, author of The Great Mistake: How We Wrecked Public Universities and How We Can Fix Them



For more than a century, a strong system of American higher education has been one of the greatest drivers for prosperity, not just in our own country but in the world. This thought-provoking book shows that our future depends on restoring a common understanding of the purpose of higher education. With a clear-eyed sense of challenges and failings in our colleges and universities, Thorp and Goldstein also show the elements of meaningful strategies to address demographic, technological, and other changes."—Peter Grauer, chairman, Bloomberg L.P.



Thorp and Goldstein delineate with great clarity the set of issues that must be resolved to restore public confidence in America's universities, and they offer wise guidance on how to move the conversation forward. University leaders, faculty, trustees, and legislators will find here much that is worthy of reflection."—Richard C. Levin, president emeritus, Yale University



It is high time for fresh thinking and new urgency in how higher education is preparing students for careers after graduation. We must nurture people's curiosity so they have the desire and ability to develop their skills continuously. This book shows how higher education and those seeking to employ college and university graduates can ensure they are pulling in the same direction as we seek a prosperous and productive future."-–Jonas Prising, chairman and CEO, ManpowerGroup