Book Review
Higher Education for the Public Good - Emerging Voices from a National Movement
Adrianna Kezar, Tony Chambers, John Burkhardt, and Associates
Summary
- This important book explores the commitment of post-secondary institutions to significantly contribute to the public good through: research to improve society; training leaders for public service; educating citizens to serve the democracy; increasing economic development; and critiquing public policy. It is also a challenge to the current shift away from this historical social charter to a current view of higher education as primarily the means to individual gain.
- Although written by and for an American audience, the themes and recommendations of this excellent book are relevant far beyond the borders of the United States. Contributions are presented from a variety of respected scholars, experienced with the policies and practices that form the general systems within which institutions of higher education operate and many of whom participated in dialogues hosted by the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good. These experts offer insights and inspiration, as well as practical suggestions on how individuals and effective partnerships from both the academic sector and other sectors of society can collaborate on strategies, programs and efforts to promote higher education as a public good, and for the public good.