The Abandoned Mission in Public Higher Education ─ The Case of the California State University

The debate about how higher education is failing to play a role in reducing inequality often centers on elite colleges, while ignoring the numerous public colleges and universities that educate the majority of our students. This book adds to the discussion by exploring an in-depth case study of the largest public higher educational system in the United States, The California State University, with implications for other state systems as well. Benjamin P. Bowser, experienced faculty member and author, discusses higher education reforms in response to increasing tuition, underprepared graduates, and declining academic standards. Focusing on the faculty perspective, this text examines how these reforms can threaten the mission of a public institution, only exacerbating the crisis of higher education and inequality.

Benjamin P. Bowser is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at California State University, East Bay.