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INDEPENDENT VS. PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? (GOVERNMENT INTRUSION, REGULATION, POLITICAL CONTROL, PLURALISTIC SYSTEM)

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Date Issued:
1985
Summary:
This study critically examines the differences between independent and public higher education by analyzing a series of dimensions associated with American higher education. A historical review encompasses an analysis of the development of early American institutions; economic/political linkages between State and private institutions; the role of governing boards of trustees; and an examination of democratic/equalitarian philosophy of education. The legal differences between private/independent institutions and public institutions were examined in the context of State action, symbiotic relation rule, close nexus test, and civil rights legislation. An analysis of common descriptors used in the literature to identify the characteristics of independent higher education was made including diversity, pluralistic system, excellence, flexibility, academic freedom, and public funding for independent institutions. A case study was conducted to place the historical analysis, judicial interpretations/legal precedent, and commonly used descriptors of independent higher education in a realistic political setting to test the accuracy of the assumptions contained within each dimension examined. The case study centered on a legislative enactment passed purportedly to protect the public from alleged substandard off-campus educational operations being conducted by accredited institutions. A critical analysis of the legislative purposes, operational effect, and regulations propounded by the State Board of Education was conducted which demonstrated intrusionary governmental regulation forcing the independent accredited institutions to comply with legislative requirements while not receiving the emoluments and economic benefit of a public institution. The issue of whether this type of regulation is needed when Florida has laws controlling deceptive trade practices and fraud in place was questioned and examined. An independent institution must be free to set its own academic mission, make its own curricular decisions, create its own environment of teaching-learning linkage, be accountable for its educational product by describing the expected outcomes and being willing to withstand the scrutiny of peer review through accreditation, and report publicly the academic dimensions of the program to the appropriate State agencies and system supporting same, thus allowing the educational consumers the ability to make a wise choice through information and not unnecessary government intrusion.
Title: INDEPENDENT VS. PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? (GOVERNMENT INTRUSION, REGULATION, POLITICAL CONTROL, PLURALISTIC SYSTEM).
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Name(s): PANZA, THOMAS F.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1985
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 436 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study critically examines the differences between independent and public higher education by analyzing a series of dimensions associated with American higher education. A historical review encompasses an analysis of the development of early American institutions; economic/political linkages between State and private institutions; the role of governing boards of trustees; and an examination of democratic/equalitarian philosophy of education. The legal differences between private/independent institutions and public institutions were examined in the context of State action, symbiotic relation rule, close nexus test, and civil rights legislation. An analysis of common descriptors used in the literature to identify the characteristics of independent higher education was made including diversity, pluralistic system, excellence, flexibility, academic freedom, and public funding for independent institutions. A case study was conducted to place the historical analysis, judicial interpretations/legal precedent, and commonly used descriptors of independent higher education in a realistic political setting to test the accuracy of the assumptions contained within each dimension examined. The case study centered on a legislative enactment passed purportedly to protect the public from alleged substandard off-campus educational operations being conducted by accredited institutions. A critical analysis of the legislative purposes, operational effect, and regulations propounded by the State Board of Education was conducted which demonstrated intrusionary governmental regulation forcing the independent accredited institutions to comply with legislative requirements while not receiving the emoluments and economic benefit of a public institution. The issue of whether this type of regulation is needed when Florida has laws controlling deceptive trade practices and fraud in place was questioned and examined. An independent institution must be free to set its own academic mission, make its own curricular decisions, create its own environment of teaching-learning linkage, be accountable for its educational product by describing the expected outcomes and being willing to withstand the scrutiny of peer review through accreditation, and report publicly the academic dimensions of the program to the appropriate State agencies and system supporting same, thus allowing the educational consumers the ability to make a wise choice through information and not unnecessary government intrusion.
Identifier: 11873 (digitool), FADT11873 (IID), fau:8796 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1985.
College of Education
Subject(s): Education, Higher--Evaluation
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11873
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.