Some Aspects of American Higher Education‪.‬

I describe and interpret from a behavior analytic viewpoint the following aspects of contemporary American higher education: (a) administrators, (b) faculty, and (c) nontraditional and for-profit institutions. Some of the contingencies operating in these three areas are described. Although there is a vast and ever-growing literature about America's system of higher education, behavior analysts, with few exceptions (e.g. Fraley 1998; Lamal, 2001; Lamal, Rakos, & Greenspoon, 2000; Michael, 1991; Moore, 2001; Rakos, 2001), have not addressed this critical cultural practice. In what follows I describe and interpret from a behavior analytic viewpoint the following aspects of contemporary American higher education: (a) administrators, (b) faculty, and (c) nontraditional and for-profit institutions of postsecondary education. My description and interpretation of these facets of American higher education makes no claim to being exhaustive. It also uses real-life examples as a form of case studies that do not permit the drawing of conclusions about what caused what. The examples, however, add verve to my account and prompt the reader to further explore the issues that the examples illuminate. I have not attempted to address all of the facets of American higher education; to do so would require the writing of a book.