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1088
Founding of the University of Bologna
University of Bologna in Italy claims to be the oldest university.
http://www.unibo.it/en/university/who-we-are/our-history/university-from-12th-to-20th-century -
1096
University of Oxford
Although, no known date of foundation exists, there is evidence of activity in 1096. This makes Oxford the oldest English speaking university and second oldest European university.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history?wssl=1 -
1200
University of Paris
"The schools’ organisation system was redefined in accordance with two major principles. The first one was the grouping together of teachers and students in a community called universitas that was governed by statutes setting out the rules of communal life within a shared system of education. The second principle was that of self-government, which was guaranteed in the early part of the 13th century by three official texts."
https://tinyurl.com/y9adc7aa -
1209
University of Cambridge
The second oldest English speaking university begins in the town of Cambridge as "scholars taking refuge from hostile townsmen in Oxford migrated to Cambridge" The university was granted a charter in 1231.
https://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/history/early-records -
Jamestown settlement
The first colony founded in Jamestown Virginia to avoid religious persecution. Without the first colony there would have been no higher education in America as we now know it.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_subj.html -
Founding of Harvard College
Harvard is the oldest college in America. It was named after the College’s first benefactor, the young minister John Harvard of Charlestown, who upon his death in 1638 left his library and half his estate to the institution.
https://www.harvard.edu/about-harvard/harvard-glance/history -
Massachusetts Law of 1647
"The Massachusetts Law required that towns of fifty families hire a schoolmaster who would teach children to read and write. Towns of a hundred families must have a grammar schoolmaster who could prepare children to attend Harvard College."
https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/masslaws.html -
Royal charter for King’s College
"Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. Controversy preceded the founding of the College, with various groups competing to determine its location and religious affiliation."
http://www.columbia.edu/content/history.html -
Founding of Dartmouth College
Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and consistently ranks among the world’s greatest academic institutions. Home to a celebrated liberal arts curriculum and pioneering professional schools, Dartmouth has shaped the education landscape and prepared leaders through its inspirational learning experience.
http://home.dartmouth.edu/life-community/explore-green/history-traditions -
Transylvania University founded in Kentucky
Transylvania Seminary, the pioneer institution of higher learning west of the Alleghenies, is established by an act of the Virginia assembly and supported by Governor Thomas Jefferson.
http://www.transy.edu/about/our-history -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
An issue of who was to appoint a board of trustees and a struggle of public vs private institutions found in favor of the university. -
State funds for Harvard were cut off by the Massachusetts legislature
Federalist party loses control in Massachusetts.The Republicans cut state funding to Harvard, moving the university to retain private control rather than public. -
Yale Report
This report was written by the faculty of Yale and focused on shaping the curriculum of higher education in America, There was a discussion of liberal education and a discussion on the retention of classical Greek and Latin Literature. The faculty concluded that there should be a common curriculum that all students should go through regardless of professional interests.
http://collegiateway.org/reading/yale-report-1828/ -
NYU founded
A non-denominational institution located in New York City. Focused on serving students interested in "science or literary pursuits." Subjects included architecture, civil engineering, astronomy, chemistry, sculpture, painting, English and modern languages, and Greek and Latin. https://www.nyu.edu/faculty/governance-policies-and-procedures/faculty-handbook/the-university/history-and-traditions-of-new-york-university/a-brief-history-of-new-york-university.html -
Morrill Act
This act was to provide lands to states to establish colleges that specialize in agriculture. Justin Morrill of Vermont was the Act sponsor. -
Second Morrill Land Grant Act
This was an expansion of the first Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862. This act ensured that race could not be an admissions criteria or designate separate land grants institutes for minorities. -
Brown’s college for Women admits first student
"After the Corporation voted to allow women to sit for exams, President Andrews recruited six women to begin study at Brown in the fall of 1891. They received similar, but separate, instruction from Brown professors in Greek, math, French, and Latin. At the end of the academic year, in 1892, the Corporation voted to open all degrees of the University to women." https://www.brown.edu/about/history/timeline/ -
College Examination Board
Founded at Columbia University in order to establish a minimum set of skills and knowledge necessary for higher education. Furthermore, a test was created to test high school students for their rediness for college. -
Association of American Universities
A gathering of 14 of the top PhD. granting institutions in the United States meet in Chicago. At the time higher education in the US was decentralized and looked down upon in Europe. The schools decided to come up with certain standards to provide some consistency between schools. -
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Worked on educational policy and standards. "Among its most notable accomplishments are the development of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), the Flexner Report on medical education, the Carnegie Unit, the Educational Testing Service, and the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Foundation_for_the_Advancement_of_Teaching -
Servicemen’s readjustment act
Also known as the GI bill. This bill was set to encourage returning servicemen and women to return to school by providing funds based on time of service and family status. Originally, it was not anticipated that many would take advantage of the Bill. However, many veterans used ended up taking advantage of this and went back to school. -
Truman commission
A commission put together by President Truman, the only president of the 20th century to not have gone to college. The commission made many recommendations for higher education but was not given any authority to make any necessary changes. -
Brown v. Board of education
The federal court ruling in Topeka Kansas that declares separate cannot be equal and puts an end to discrimination. Previously, minority students were sent to separate schools from elementary school all the way to higher education. However, it was ruled that separation inherinetly makes the expereinecs unequal. -
Affirmative Action
Civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on race. For example, a person otherwise qualified could not be denied admission due to their race. It was hoped that this would undo past discriminations. -
Higher Education Act
A bill signed by President Johnson which provides financial assistance to post-secondary students. Additionally, the bill worked to provide skilled teachers in high needs areas. Additionally, the bill provided financial aid, scholarships, work-study, and internships. -
Title IX
Prevents people from being discriminated based on sex in any educational program receiving federal financial assistance. This has expanded into athletics and schools need to allocate equal amounts to men's and women's teams. Furthermore, it is now required that all school employ a Title IX officer. -
FERPA
The family educational rights and privacy act. This act differentiates what information can and cannot be shared wtih parents depending on the student's age and enrollment (high school vs college) with our without consent. Furthermore, it determines what records the student has access too. -
Middle Income Student Assistance Act
signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. The act provides a more generous Basic Educational Opportunity Grant—grants provided to low-income students—and increases income limits eligibility, allowing an additional 1.5 million students from middle-income families to become eligible for the basic grants program -
University of Phoenix
John Sperling starts the University of Phoenix online program to address the needs of the working adults who have been attending University of Phoenix on-site classes -
American's with Disabilities Act
Signed by George H.W. Bush in 1990. Civil rights act protecting the rights of people with disabilities. It was determined that they have the right to an education with reasonable accommodations to complete tasks. Institutions still disagree today what that term means. -
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) begin
Massive open online courses were seen as a way to educate large groups of students in one online course. Courses were initially free to provide access to those where finances may be a barrier. However, students need to have access to a computer with internet access. -
Virginia Tech Massacre
Mass shooting at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. 32 people were shot and killed while an additional 17 were wounded. -
College Cost Reduction and Access Act
Act working to improve the student debt issue facing many graduates by moving money from student loan companies to increase Pell Grants for students.
https://ticas.org/initiative/page/college-cost-reduction-and-access-act -
America's College Promise proposal
Obama era movement to make higher education more affordable to all students to avoid issues of access. -
Excelsior Scholarship
NYS enactment of America's College Promise. Signed in 2017. The scholarship enables NYS citizens to attend SUNY or CUNY schools for a reduced rate.
