William G. Tierney offers a different way of thinking about the curriculum in post-secondary curriculum than is customary. Through an in-depth analysis of seven ethnographic case studies, the author demonstrates how the curriculum itself is a cultural product which institutions of higher education construct socially. The manner in which the individual institution defines its curriculum, Tierney argues, commits it to certain philosophical and ideological choices, whether these are overtly recognized or not. It is the result of a year's research that included over 250 interviews at seven...

The impetus for this book derives from the unusually high percentage of minority students generally, and Native American students specifically, who do not complete a collegiate degree. Of all ethnic groups in the U.S., Indian students experience the most difficulty in obtaining a degree. A host of strategies and policies have been implemented by well-meaning administrators to decrease attrition, yet these ideas have often failed to make any significant difference in whether Indian students graduate. This volume is the result of a two-year study of Native American undergraduate students. It...

The impetus for this book derives from the unusually high percentage of minority students generally, and Native American students specifically, who do not complete a collegiate degree. Of all ethnic groups in the U.S., Indian students experience the most difficulty in obtaining a degree. A host of strategies and policies have been implemented by well-meaning administrators to decrease attrition, yet these ideas have often failed to make any significant difference in whether Indian students graduate. This volume is the result of a two-year study of Native American undergraduate students. It...

Higher education is in a time of crisis--diminishing funds, rising costs, lack of student preparation for college work, low morale among students and faculty, strained relations between faculty and administration, and confusion about curriculum and educational goals. Tierney believes that the problems are moral. He suggests that by following principles used by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, institutions of higher learning can model themselves on communities of brotherly love and service to humanity. Tierney presents several case studies of postsecondary institutions and shows how academic...

Adults have been and remain marginalized in academic institutions because of the persistence of a deeply rooted culture bias. This work analyzes the current state of the adult student experience in higher education, exploring the organizational, instructional, and interpersonal barriers that adults face in reaching their educational goals. Using applied critical and postmodern theory, the author explores the hypothesis that adults are at-risk in higher education settings because of such bias. The book includes an extensive review and critique of the literature and of contemporary adult...

Today, institutional leaders face numerous struggles: intervention from boards of trustees, alumni, and state legislators; decline in financial support from the states; and competition in an increasingly global marketplace. While it is agreed that effective governance structures allow institutions to respond creatively to these challenges, how best to allocate control in order to maximize institutional efficiency, preserve academic freedom, and ensure institutional identity remains unclear. Increasingly, administrators look to non-academic institutions for governance and management...

The college application process--which entails multiple forms, essays, test scores, and deadlines--can be intimidating. For students without substantial school and family support, the complexity of this process can become a barrier to access. William G. Tierney, Tracy Fullerton, and their teams at the University of Southern California approach this challenge innovatively. Using the tools of online games and social media, they have developed ways to make applying for college much less intimidating.

While the vast majority of college students use social media and gaming in their...