Rebuilding Support for Higher Education

Paul L. Gaston is Trustees Professor Emeritus at Kent State University, USA, and the author of books on the Bologna Process (2010), higher education accreditation (2014), and postsecondary education credentials (2023).

“The book addresses issues that resonate across the world in universities and their national systems (...) How the current circumstances have been arrived at must be viewed through the appropriate lens of historical, recent, and contemporary contexts in terms of social, economic, and political impacts. For observers of the United States higher education landscape who have that interest, some degree of background knowledge, and a desire to enjoy the detailed U.S. contexts given, the book is ideal.”Tim Birtwistle, Professor Emeritus, Leeds Beckett University, UK"Higher education, long an engine of economic and social progress, is at a tipping point in terms of public perceptions of both quality and equity. Paul Gaston makes a compelling case for restoring confidence in a transformed higher education system, one that is transparent, student outcomes-focused, and committed to democratic renewal. Gaston convincingly argues that this transformation will not be driven by a handful of elite institutions or visionary leaders, but instead by a diverse array of faculty, experienced administrators, and innovative institutions of all types—each committed to looking beyond what higher education has been, and instead focused on what it must be."Jamie Merisotis, President & CEO, Lumina Foundation, USA"Amid burgeoning polarization and partisanship and increasingly demanding constituencies that have catalyzed the politicization of higher education and fueled skepticism about its value, this book creates an ascendant narrative that unequivocally reaffirms college as a public good. In the process, it offers both compelling insights and practical strategies for principled leaders to rebuild trust in higher education’s integrity and effectiveness. Gaston’s urgent call to action couldn’t come at a more critical time, as America’s distinctive tradition of liberal education and democracy itself are imperiled."Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges & Universities, USA "Dr. Gaston has achieved a capstone in his life’s work. He argues that effective and committed academic leadership, focused on quality programs and equitable outcomes for students, can restore public faith in higher education and rebuild the public support higher education needs to survive. Quality must be achieved through a curriculum of clear benefit to employers, faculty, and students, one including the liberal arts. Equity must be achieved through a focus on student learning."Aaron Thompson, President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, USA

• 1. Clarify What Has Happened 2. Identify and Engage Advocates 3. Repair Self-Inflicted Damage 4. Tell a Positive Story More Effectively 5. Practice Rigorous and Conspicuous Transparency 6. Address the “Silent Discord” 7. Exercise Focused Leadership: Three Paramount Strategies 8. Public Support for Higher Education in a Restored Democracy