or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Reconstructing Alma Mater: The Coming Crisis in Higher Education, a Blueprint for Reform
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Reconstructing Alma Mater: The Coming Crisis in Higher Education, a Blueprint for Reform [Paperback]

Philip H. Francis (Author)

Price: $22.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Thursday, February 2? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover $28.95  
Paperback $22.95  

Book Description

March 2, 2006
Higher education as we know it today is on the verge of a major transformation. We ll be forced to re-examine our ways in light of rapid changes in demographics, costs, lifelong and distance learning, and even in the way we best learn, individually.
Dr. Francis draws on his experience as an academic and an education consultant to outline the critical challenges and needs ahead for American colleges and universities.
The author analyzes the challenges including changes in finance, demographics, technology, the marketplace, and the political environment. He looks at issues including accreditation, admissions, finance, pedagogy, tenure, technology, ethics, leadership, management and branding.

He briefly summarizes the evolution of the modern college/university system since roughly the establishment of Harvard College in 1636 the first college in America. From there, the discussion moves to mission and cultures of the modern university as we know it. Ensuing chapters fast forward to have a close look at today s colleges and universities: their missions, cost structures, vulnerabilities, and how they dispense education. The author examines the cultural, economic and technologic dimensions that are driving substantial changes in the educational experience for students of all ages.

The basic educational foundations of academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance are examined, as well as how they are being reinterpreted for the years ahead.

This re-examination of the U.S. higher educational system is a prologue to a vision of what higher education will look like in the years ahead. Finally, the author makes a compelling case for a new business model that will take us forward to improved educational and institutional processes.

The book is designed for

academic administrators who see a need to create bold new visions futures for their institutions.
state and federal legislators who need to understand the financial structures and the cost-benefit relationships of public higher education.
academics and those aspiring to careers in higher education that want to understand what tomorrow s institution will look like.
entrepreneurs who are looking to get a piece of the huge new markets that are being created.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Whether you are a seasoned higher education administrator, or a concerned legislator, or an emerging university leader, you will find Philip Francis Reconstructing Alma Mater: the Coming Crisis in Higher Education a valuable resource and useful guide for understanding higher education today. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and can t think of a major issue in higher education that was not covered. It reads more like a novel than a text. Dr Francis writing style is conversational and engaging. I felt as though I was participating in an interesting conversation about the extensive challenges our colleges and universities are currently facing. Dr. Francis addresses the innovative changes that must take place in order for colleges and universities to meet the needs of an education-thirsty society. Scenarios and examples of situations occurring at universities throughout the country are integrated to illustrate the each challenge and key point, demonstrating the author s extensive research and knowledge about our higher education system. He provides a thorough description of every aspect affecting today s institutions from technology to tenure. I would recommend Reconstructing Alma Mater for scholars of higher education as well as committed leaders who want to establish a context for making critical decisions. --Jean Blosser, Ed.D, former Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the University of Akron

"This book shows us the future possibilities for our universities and colleges to embrace productive change. Our institutions historically have tended to be cumbersome and silo-like organizations; slow to change and to adapt creatively for the new needs of their students, faculties and administrators. But with this book, we can begin to envision a future that is organic, that values cooperation and which will bring us much needed reform." --Penny Silvers, professor, DePaul University, Chicago

About the Author

Philip H. Francis, PhD, MBA, was a professor and department chair at the Illinois Institute of Technology and has served as an executive of three Fortune 100 companies. He has served on the advisory boards of eight major colleges and universities.
He now works, along with his wife Diana, as a consultant both to academia and to industry.
Phil also has written books on R&D management, and on New Product Development for industrial practitioners.

Product Details


More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews


There are no customer reviews yet.
Video reviews
Video reviews
Amazon now allows customers to upload product video reviews. Use a webcam or video camera to record and upload reviews to Amazon.



Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
continuing tenure
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Reconstructing Alma Mater, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Beginnings of the New Trans, Technology's Trans, The New Business of Higher Education, Six Sigma, Supreme Court, United States, Harvard University, University of Michigan, Business Week, Getting the Most, Topical Themes, Ivy League, The Wall Street Journal, University of Phoenix, While Managing Costs, New York, World Report, Ward Connerly, Reclaiming the Game, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Education, University of California, Byron Pipes
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject