Designing the New American University has an ambitious aim: reformulating the necessary role of the American research university, and describing how ADesigning the New American University has an ambitious aim: reformulating the necessary role of the American research university, and describing how Arizona State University is succeeding in those reformulations. These are noble goals, but the book buries many of its points under chunky verbiage and thickets of quotes from academic thought leaders, and doesn't quite connect on its major points about what ASU is doing. This is a good book for seeing what Michael Crow has thought, but doesn't give much insight into what he is thinking next.
The first few chapters are literature review; describing the evolution of the university from the 10th century on, the origins and nature of the specific institutional configuration called the American Research University in the late 19th century, and the current crisis of faith about rising costs and decreasing utility. Crow and Dabars argue that the major sins of the American university are Havardization, a focus on academic prestige as measured by similarity to Harvard, which can be seen more regularly in an increasingly exclusive admissions process, and overweening filiopietism, a senseless worship of old traditions for their own sake. The result is rigid institutions that don't adapt to local needs and issues, that don't produce relevant knowledge, and that actually serve to block access to the middle class. It's a comprehensive lit review, but also a clunky piece of writing. The key point, that the research university created American prosperity from 1940-1970, may be unprovable. Personally, I'd give credit to being on the winning side of World War II and the early Cold War defense boom.
Against this, Crow offers a vision of access, innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinarity. The New American University serves as tentpole for an entire region, providing expert knowledge, skilled workers, and pragmatic solutions in a massive value ad for society. Some of the things that happened during Crow's tenure are truly impressive: the dramatic rise in admissions, access for children of poor families and minorities groups, and increased student success without substantially compromising educational quality; A 250% increase in research funding over a 12 year period, with commensurate increases in outputs; Whole new forms of civic engagement; a proliferation of schools and programs
On the other hand, I was reading descriptions of people and organization I know, and saying "Wait, they do that?" The plan looks very different from the ground level, and I'm a person who has benefited. Where Crow see entrepreneurship, I see groups of scholars in defensive crouches, terrified that their piece of cheese will be moved yet again. I do agree that the traditional disciplinary department needs to be shaken up; I'm not convinced that ASU has modeled its replacement, or that this book elucidates what has happened.
**Disclosure: I am an ASU graduate student. I purchased this book with my own money, and received no compensation for this review. If I were more astute, it'd probably be gentler. But I'm in the truth business....more
A fun little book that blends the author's personal experiences hunting for the Lost Dutchman mine with the historical record behind the legend, and tA fun little book that blends the author's personal experiences hunting for the Lost Dutchman mine with the historical record behind the legend, and the ways that it has drawn people to the Superstitions, many to their deaths. It's a slice of Arizona that I don't see a lot of in 2012, where my life is mostly snowbirds and grad students....more
Loading...
