Universities in troubled times - Institutional responses

The rapid pace of change under way in America's colleges and universities h as sparked a wide-ranging and often heated public debate about the social r ole and responsibilities of higher education in American society. From smal l private liberal arts colleges in economically distressed urban areas to s tate-supported land-grant and research institutions, schools nationwide are taking these challenges head-on often with government, corporate, or found ation collaboration and support. Yet, the national debate has too often ove rlooked and thus not benefited from the proactive and innovative ways that a growing number of colleges and universities are responding to these chall enges. This article reviews the broad social, economic, and political trend s that are reshaping higher education and introduces the two-issue series o f American Behavioral Scientist dedicated to analyzing a cross-section of t hese innovative institutional and pedagogical endeavors and considering the ir potential for reorienting the traditional teaching, research, and servic e missions of colleges and universities.