Public Higher Education Reform Five Years after the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities
Author: Byrne, John V.
Date: 2006-01-00
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: Higher Education,Campuses,Educational Needs,Land Grant Universities,State Universities,Student Experience,Grants,College Presidents,Educational Change,Letters (Correspondence),Public Schools

The Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land grant Universities existed between January 1996 and March 2000 in order to create an awareness among public universities of the need for higher education reform. The Commission, consisting of the presidents and chancellors of 25 major public universities, produced six reports and held numerous meetings on campuses throughout America urging a return to the educational values and dedication of the past. The commission called for discussion and actions on campuses to reinvigorate the student experience, improve student access, energize and enhance partnerships with the public served by the university, address the role of public universities in a learning society, and attend to the culture of the campus. A final report called for a renewal of the partnership of the public university with the society it serves. At the time of their release all of the reports were well received by academe throughout the United States. Now, five years after the Commission's final meeting it is appropriate to address the lasting impact the Commission had on higher education reform. An assessment is presented here of the influence of the Commission based on thirty-five responses to a letter sent to presidents, chancellors, and friends of public higher education. The presidents and chancellors were requested to express their views on the effectiveness of the Commission and to share examples of transformative changes on their campuses during the past five years. If possible, they were to relate those changes to the recommendations of the Kellogg Commission. All who responded indicated the work of the Commission was important to creating an awareness of the need for higher education reform. Several respondents said the Commission had stimulated and shaped discussion at a national level and had catalyzed action on their campus. Further, in a number of cases the Commission had validated changes already in the process of implementation on their campus. Several presidents called for an on-going Kellogg Commission-type effort to continue to stimulate reform. All who responded stated that at their university significant change was underway. A small number of universities were truly innovative in the changes they were making; most had adopted changes already implemented at other universities. All were attempting to better meet the educational needs of the 21st century society they serve; all indicated the work of the Kellogg Commission had directly or indirectly been of benefit to them and to higher education. Appended are: (1) Kellogg Commission Members; (2) Letter to Presidents and Chancellors requesting reform information; (3) List of respondents to letter requesting information on reform; and (4) National Association of State Universities and Land. (Contains 9 footnotes.)