Relection:

And so we come full circle on understanding the foundation of higher education. Labaree (2017) explains how higher education came to be:

"It arose as a side effect of efforts by a variety of actors— land speculators, churches, and educational consumers— to pursue a variety of ends that had nothing to do with creating a system of higher education. They wanted to increase land value, promote the faith, and get a good job. They weren’t trying to construct the cur-rent astonishingly complex and highly stratified structure of nearly 5,000 institutions, ranging from the inclusive community college to the exclusive research university."    (p.194-195)

As we look to the foundation of higher education, we find a structure that was never intended to be created. We see higher education in it's true light: a system that has persevered and adjusted to become what the students, faculty/staff, and supporters desire. It is a system that has been and remains flexible to change, need, and desire. 

One Final Activity:

Linked below is a Padlet asking the question: 

"Who is someone you know that could leave an impact on higher education?" 

I encourage you to note a person that has potential to be and do anything. Someone who could impact higher education, change their lives through seeking a degree, or develop the world around them through increasing their knowledge and understanding. This person could be a friend, an acquaintance, or a close family member. The floor is yours.