Assignment:
The wealth and energy between 1880 and 1910 was a unique and dynamic period in higher education. During this time the stock market was volatile and the rules that governed higher education were mostly absent. In addition, there was an abundance of industrial wealth, and a new level of philanthropic generosity toward higher education. Uncertainty and diversity were characteristics of this time period.
Discuss the dynamics of university-building in the formative decades between 1880 and 1910. Reflect on the actions and influences of Slossen's book Great American Universities and the Association of American Universities. What were some of the historical, political, and economic reasons that these associations had so much influence? Are there similar associations in higher education today?