The Myth of the University: Ideal and Reality in Higher Education

by Paul Shore

The university, in its laudable effort to be a democratic institution, has lost its original sense of mission and become a credential factory rather than a place where learning for its own sake is valued. This book proposes a practical reform of higher education based on the original ideals of the institution. The remedies involve both pragmatic changes and a radical shift in the basic philosophy of many colleges and universities. Teaching and learning at all levels must be re-emphasized, and the criteria for selecting and retaining faculty should be changed. The book examines the subject from a historical perspective and concludes with a vision of what the university can choose to become if it wishes.

250 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 1991