Pluralism and Diversity in American Higher Education

Abstract

In a pluralistic society diversity in higher educa tion might be expected to serve the differing educational needs of various class, race, and ethnic groups. In fact, the variety among institutions is due in part to the labor market need for specialists and in part to the practice of accommodating new entrants to higher education without disturbing its traditional mission. The crisis in higher education today is partially at tributed to the tension between the traditional functions and those of mass education. New groups, like those whose de mands led to the land-grant colleges, are calling for changes to make the experience related to their lives. Some changes have come. The current demand for institutions suited to contemporary interests and needs had its counterpart in a period when the land-grant colleges were established. Devel opments and problems in the two-year and four-year colleges are discussed, and some guidelines are suggested for initiating changes within existing institutions.