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Over a period of time, there have been continuous initiatives to reform various aspects of American higher education. This is evident with the number of conferences, funded projects, newsletters and journals that have been published on a constant basis. Innovative and new directions and ideas have been initiated by various informal alliances, networks and membership associations.

The regular reform stream has had a huge impact on various fields including method of instruction, requirements for degree, academic programs and structure of organizations. There have been various fields of studies introduced according to the changing needs of time. New institutions have mushroomed to cater to the ever rising demand for seats.

Even as these initiatives have been going on, they have not been recognized as a potent mechanism with the help of which it is possible to bring about a major change in the field of education.

Every reform initiative has three major phases namely the initiation phase where the goal is outlined, the implemental phase where ideas are transformed into action and the institutionalization phase where the initiative stabilizes and gains recognition and form.
For the reforms to gain a strong ground, every initiative must be headed by a leader and must be promoted as a necessary requirement.

The 1980s saw a major reform initiative in student assessment. A strong stand for reform was taken up by States and Accreditors who stressed that outcome assessment must be conducted by institutions.

A lot of non governmental agencies including the AAHE or American Association for Higher Education and other colleges and universities offered a host of commentary and advice resulting in huge reforms and student assessment methods started being implemented on a large scale across the nation.

Another significant reform during the same period was the freshman year seminars. The success of one university’s implementation of this initiative fuelled a major reform. In order to control student drop-outs, freshmen students were given guidance and assistance in adapting and adjusting to life at the universities. Now, most of the colleges give special attention to the needs of freshman students in order to help them adapt to college life.

These examples clearly indicate that there are many such reforms initiated by self funded universities and colleges which go unnoticed and do not take off. Every good initiative requires an idea champion who is a well known personality. Advocates of these ideas have the potential to give it the necessary kick start in the right direction and help consolidate and strengthen the initiative.

Reform initiatives are sponsored usually by voluntary organizations. For example, initiatives in curriculum reforms are sponsored by the AAHE and AAC&U. Apart from these agencies; many private firms come forward to sponsor too including the Pew Charitable Trust and the Ford Foundation.


Today, more than ever, American higher education require recognition of potent and powerful reform initiatives and bring them to fruition with the help of strong leaders or idea champions and sponsorship from enterprising companies and organizations.