Generational Shockwaves And The Implications For Higher Education

‘. . . this is an impressive volume with a great deal of information about generational shifts in higher education and the policies and procedures needed to support the next generation of students, administrators, and faculty. It is a helpful resource for administrators who are interested in examining intergenerational best practices on their campuses and can serve as a springboard for conversations about the importance of programs, services, and HR benefits to support both students and faculty of different generations.’
– Reynol Junco, Review of Higher Education

‘This volume works because it has caught a theme about which the consensus is that is it both important and insufficiently understood.’
– David Watson, London Review of Education

‘This is a fascinating book.’
– Higher Education Review

‘The Baby Boom generation did much to drive the transformation of American higher education that occurred in the 1960s. That extraordinary impact has invited many to think about how succeeding generations have challenged and will continue to challenge the assumptions and practices of educational institutions. This volume explores the significance of this “generational perspective” through observations from a variety of practitioners and observers of higher education. With stances ranging from unbridled enthusiasm to measured skepticism about the significance of generational change, these authors are sure to provide new insights to any thoughtful reader.’
– Michael S. McPherson, President, The Spencer Foundation, US

‘Our “industry” is extremely people intensive, so that understanding generational differences may be more important for us than for other industries. This book carefully portrays these generational differences and explores their implications for higher education.’
– Catharine Bond Hill, President, Vassar College, US

‘Generational Shockwaves is a must read for all of us in higher education who spend so much of our time working to enhance the educational and social success of our students as well as the scholarly and teaching success of our faculty. After reviewing this volume, no one can continue to support what too many in higher education still practice – a one size fits all approach to the challenges we confront.’
– Herman A. Berliner, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Hofstra University, US

‘This volume offers a sort of cultural seismography of higher education in the early 21st century. This is the most comprehensive and thoughtful treatment I have seen of an inexorable and tectonic trend that will challenge the status quo in profound and unprecedented ways.’
– David W. Leslie, Chancellor Professor of Education Emeritus, The College of William & Mary, US

This volume, part of the TIAA-CREF Institute Series on Higher Education, is based on a national conference convened by the Institute in November 2007. The generational issues that were the focus of the conference raise both risks and opportunities with the potential to profoundly affect our cultural environment, both inside and outside academe.

Baby Boomers, in their roles as students, parents, professors and administrators, transformed the American higher education system. As Boomers near retirement, Generation X and the Millennials are building on those contributions and making their own impacts. This volume sheds light on a current front-burner issue in higher education: managing the melding of generations, each with its unique needs and approaches to teaching and learning. The result of discussions among presidents, provosts, and other senior-level leaders from the higher education community, as well as the scholarship of leading academics, this lucid and engaging volume addresses intergenerational shifts and their wide-ranging implications for higher education including relevant risks and opportunities for consideration by campus leaders.

The type of institution represented in these discussions ranges from small teaching-focused institutions to community colleges and large comprehensive research institutions. The authors offer senior leadership a deeper understanding of these generational challenges and opportunities and provide them with new and actionable information to enhance decision-making and inform strategic planning. They offer scholars new research questions to examine and provide insights to enhance effective reporting on higher education issues. Higher education presidents, chancellors, provosts, CFOs, faculty, researchers and policymakers will find this volume to be of significant value.

Contents:

Foreword
Herbert M. Allison, Jr.

Introduction
Donald E. Heller

1. Generations of Americans: A Big Picture Look at the Future of Higher Education
Neil Howe, William Strauss and Reena Nadler

2. Perspectives from the Presidency
D. Bruce Johnstone

3. Generation X: Redefining the Norms of the Academy
Ronald G. Ehrenberg

4. Young Faculty and their Impact on Academe
Cathy A. Trower

5. The Impact of the Millennials on Higher Education
Donald W. Harward

6. Attracting and Retaining Students: Challenges and Opportunities for Today and Tomorrow
Kenneth E. Redd

7. Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of College Faculty: Negotiating the New Playing Field
Martin Finkelstein

8. Baby Boomers
Carol A. Cartwright

9. The ‘Boom’ Heard Round the Campus: How the Retirement of the Baby Boomers Will Affect Colleges and Universities
Karen Steinberg, Phyllis Snyder and Rebecca Klein-Collins

10. As Baby Boomers Retire
Valerie Martin Conley

11. Generational Impacts – The Views of Symposium Participants
Mark Heckler, Virginia Michelich, and Teresa A. Sullivan

12. Public Policy Reform and Expanding Societal Expectations
F. King Alexander

Index