There have been a number of very important periods in American higher education that have shaped higher education in this country. These have included things such as the Morrell Act of 1862 that created land grant universities, the Gl Bill of 1944 that provided educational benefits to World War II veterans, and the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite, 50 years ago. The Sputnik launch in particular marked a pivotal moment in political, military, technological, and scientific developments, and the beginning of the international space race. U.S. universities have embraced these challenges in order to provide the best higher education system in the world. That is still true today, but the gap is closing quickly. As the globalization of higher education becomes a reality, it is important to recognize that the future of American research universities is dependent on the development of new models for educating students and serving local communities, states, and the nation. These models must be globally competitive.
展开▼
