CULTURE IN HIGHER

EDUCATIONCatherine Jahns

“Turning the Tide”◦University admissions processes are known for their competitive nature.

◦ The need for a student to be well-rounded, with impressive GPA’s, test scores, community involvement, participation in extracurricular activities, all with a stellar resume and a perfect admissions interview is being questioned by elite higher education institutions.

Why is This a Problem?◦Student’s mental health is put at risk when demanding so much out

of them and questioning their futures with an acceptance or declination from top colleges adds unnecessary pressure.

◦AP courses are often cited as the culprit of issues such as sleep deprivation, anxiety, and depression.

Why is This a Problem?◦ The current process fails to include students from less privileged backgrounds for

equal consideration.◦ Lower-income schools are less likely to offer AP courses.◦ A student who had the opportunity to take AP courses have the advantage o a

higher weighted GPA and college level classroom experience over a student who lacked that opportunity.

“It’s Really Time to Say Enough..”◦ Richard Wiessbourd, senior lecturer and Harvard University and the author of

research on research conducted asking students in middle school and high school what matters most to them- high individual achievement, happiness, or caring for others.

◦Only 22% responded “caring for others”◦ “The new report contemplates how the admissions process contributes to that

psychology and how it might be changed. Some of those alterations would simultaneously level the playing field for kids applying to college from less advantaged backgrounds.”

What is Culture?◦ Culture is defined in the text as “assumptions, values, behaviors, and artifacts than

an organization exhibits as it attempts to adapt to internal and external organizational contingencies” (Miller 82).

◦Deal and Kennedy’s “Strong Cultures” metaphor reflects well in Higher Education institutions.

Deal and Kennedy’s “Strong Cultures”◦Deal and Kennedy (1982) argue that business success can be enhanced through the

development of a “strong” culture.◦Deal and Kennedy identify four main components of a strong culture:◦ “Values: the beliefs and visions that members hold for an organization◦Heroes: the individuals who come to exemplify an organization’s values◦ Rites and Rituals: ceremonies in which an organization shares its values◦ The Cultural Network is the communication system through which cultural values

are instituted and reinforced” (Miller 83).

Values in Higher Education◦ Values that higher education institutions hold have typically valued grades and

impressive resumes above lived experiences.◦Universities can also display their values through an oath or a creed.

Changing Values- Test Scores◦ The new report suggests putting less emphasis on test scores, which may benefit

students who come from more advantaged backgrounds◦ It costs $56.50 to take the ACT and $54.50 to take the SAT (not including other fees

associated), so many students cannot afford to retake the test to receive competitive scores.

◦ Repeat test-takers on average receive a score 2.9 points higher than single test counterparts.

◦ A growing number of schools are making ACT and SAT scores optional

Changing Values-Resumes◦ The report also suggests that colleges discourage “resume padding” by limiting the

amount of extra-curricular activities the student is allowed to list◦ Emphasis on essays and references, rather than “fluff resumes”◦Downgrade the importance of “A.P. everything”◦ Take into account part-time jobs and family obligations under-privileged students

may be required to do.

Heroes in Higher Education◦ Typically, Ivy League and Big Ten institutions have been the “heroes” of the Higher

Education establishment.◦ Schools with high numbers of applicants and prestigious programs push other

programs to improve.◦Harvard spearheading research on competition being too intense at the higher

education level will most likely prompt other institutions to pay attention.

Rites and Rituals◦ Events like career fairs, campus visits, and commencement ceremonies can be

included as examples of rites and rituals of higher education institutions for students.

◦ Faculty and other employees of a university may participate in end of the term recognition events.

Network System◦Universities are unique in their industry because they have to reach out to many

different people to portray information such as:◦ Students◦ Staff (Faculty, Professors, Professional Staff)◦ Potential students◦ Families of current and potential students◦ Alumnae◦Donors◦Universities use billboards, newspapers, radio and television advertisements, and

it’s website as ways to get information out.

Conclusion◦Universities have always held similar cultures: admittance has always been a

certain way, universities have always driven to have the best students with the best scores and the most extra curriculars.

◦ Research has proven that students are more likely to be successful individuals in their college careers if they are pushed less from the beginning of their college search.

◦Universities are striving to level the playing field for all students, regardless of wealth or background through a major values change

Questions◦How will universities continue to ensure that all students are receiving equal

treatment with regards to admittance?◦With A.P. classes providing a weighted GPA to students who can afford to take them,

how will universities separate a student who may have just as good, or better grades than a student who has a higher GPA due to A.P. weight?

◦With a growing number of universities allowing an optional ACT/SAT score for admittance, how will universities track students with lower GPAs due to lesser opportunities (such as low-income, inner-city schools)? Will universities challenge ACT and/or SAT testing to be provided free to all high school students?

Work Cited◦Harmston, Matt, MA, and Jill Crouse, PhD. "Multiple Testers: What Do We Know

About Them?" ACT Research and Policy. ACT inc, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.◦Miller, Katherine. Organizational communication: Approaches and processes.

Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.◦ "Making Caring Common." Making Caring Common. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.◦ Bruni, Frank. "Rethinking College Admissions." The New York Times. The New York

Times, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017◦ "Eastern Michigan University." Eastern Michigan University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb.

2017.