The University of California: Creating, Nurturing, and Maintaining Academic Quality in a Public-University Setting

King, C. Judson

ISBN 10: 0999498002 / ISBN 13: 9780999498002

Published by Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, 2018

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 31636952-n

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The University of California: Creating, Nurturing, and Maintaining Academic Quality in a Public-University Setting
• Publisher: Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0999498002
• ISBN 13: 9780999498002
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

At 150 years following its founding in 1868, the University of California is regarded by many as the most successful and highly respected public research university in the world. Particularly impressive are the very high standings of its campuses in national and international rankings, the size of the ten-campus university, the high quality of the education it provides, the access and the route of upward mobility that it affords for students in the state, the success that it has had in developing new campuses that have achieved strong reputations in surprisingly short times, the attractiveness of the university to students and their families, and the substantial role that the university has played in the unparalleled technological innovation climate of California. The purpose of this book is to identify and analyze the essential ways in which that success has come about.The book is not a history of the University of California, per se. Instead, it is an analysis of the structural, policy, operational, and environmental matters that have contributed to the success of the University of California and a discussion of what makes UC tick and the approaches that have made it tick best. In that sense it is a selective, topical history and analysis for those subjects. The format is such that the book can also serve as a reference work, and for that reason many cross-references among chapters have been included, along with a substantial index and many citations in footnotes. Most chapters have summary conclusions, distilling the most important points.The book is written from the point of view of one who has been concerned for many years with making the University of California work well academically. Although many books have been written by ex-presidents of universities, many fewer have been written by ex-provosts. Yet because of the large extramural roles of presidents, it is probably the provosts who best know the inner academic operations of modern American universities, as they are totally immersed in them.The intended audience for this book is the global higher-education community, as well as others interested in the University of California and the development and functioning of universities, and particularly public universities, in the United States. The book should be useful to those in governments who are concerned with public universities, as well as those in other states and other countries who would like to understand the University of California and assess what about it could be useful in connection with the development of their own systems and institutions of higher education.

About the Author

C. JUDSON KING has been with the University of California for over 55 years. Along with a faculty career in chemical engineering, he has served in administrative posts throughout the university that have given him a full perspective of the university. For the Berkeley campus he was successively Department Chair, Dean of the College of Chemistry, and Provost – Professional Schools and Colleges. He was then Vice Provost for Research for a year and Provost and Senior Vice President – Academic Affairs for nearly a decade with the university-wide administration. Returning to the Berkeley campus, he directed their Center for Studies in Higher Education for a decade. He has had extensive experience with university-industry relations, shared governance, and development of academic programs.