University status for state colleges — boon or boondoggle?

Abstract

dominated by a major state university. In most states, one institution, frequently the descendant of a landgrant college, has long been regarded as THE state university. In recent years, however, we have witnessed a remarkable evolution on the part of state colleges. The small, sedate state college-offspring of the normal school-is fast disappearing. Principally because of the vast numbers of students now entering higher education, major state universities have gradually become more selective, and have tended to place greater emphasis on upper division and graduate work. This has led to a dramatic increase in the enrollment of smaller public colleges, as they have, for the most part, been required to maintain an open door policy to all high school graduates of the states. As state colleges grow in size, they frequently seek university status. Since there is a tendency in this country to equate bigness with excellence, this status is usually granted. We therefore have many institutions in this country which should properly WILLIAM N. PAFFORD East Tennessee State University Johnson City 37601