This is the most widely used volume on the subject of American higher education. Now completely revised and updated, this third edition provides in-depth coverage of economic, social, and political issues by leading experts in their fields. Among the topics covered are: the financing of higher education; the relationship between American universities and government at the state and federal levels; the changing legal aspects of higher education; academic freedom. The contributors also discuss how the key elements of academic institutions - students, faculty, and administrators - have been affected by societal trends.This is the only volume that offers a multi-faceted and comprehensive analysis of the relationship between one of our most important institutions - the university - and the political and social system of which it is a part. The contributors include Philip G. Altbach; Robert O Berdahl; Burton Clark; Eric L Dey; Lawrence E Gladieux; Patricia J Gumport; W Lee Hansen; Fred F Harcleroad; Arthur M Hauptman; Walter C Hobbs; Sylvia Hurtado; Clark Kerr; Laura Green Knapp; TR McConnell; Aims C McGuinness Jr; Walter Metzger; Sheila Slaughter; Irving J Spitzsberg Jr; Jacob O Stampern; John R Thelin; Martin Trow; and Ami Zusman.