Running Head: HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 1

Historical Timeline of Higher Education

Amanda S. Gilliland
Georgia Southern University
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 2


Approximately 1720 B.C. Examination Text A
A Document describing an exchange between the teacher and the student which is the earliest
evidence of any form of formalized higher education.

3
rd
Millennium B.C. Mesopotamian higher education
Earliest form of established houses of learning formed in Mesopotamia meeting the needs of the
growing agricultural Industry. The Tablet House and a scribal caste called Tablet Writers are
also formed.

1570 1305 B.C. House of Life
Served as library and a place for scholarly discussion in many cities across Egypt. Scholars in
many were able to participate in advanced study in a variety of subjects

7
th
Century Library at Nineveh
Early collection of manuscripts, books, and writings. Large collection with hundreds of
thousands of texts that attracted scholars from all over the Mediterranean and other surrounding
regions. Prompted the beginning of other libraries.

5
th
Century B.C. The Sophists
Classical Greece experiences its first full-time paid teachers. Lecturers provided the first
organized education through their presentations. Their overall philosophy was based in opinion
that often was subjective and controversial making it attractive to the youth of Classical Athens.
A notable sophist (481 411 B.C.) was Protagoras. He influenced many teachers that came after
him. He emphasized the importance of language and its use in rhetoric and debate.

469 B.C. 399 B.C. Socrates and the Socratic Method
The Socratic Method is named for Athenian philosopher, Socrates. Socrates offered instruction
for free and his philosophy was rooted in analysis and a conversational style with which
individuals could examine a topic point by point in an attempt to create a definition.

388 B.C. First Philosophical schools established
Starting under the guidance of Plato, philosophers begin to provide instruction in an actual
organized school.

2
nd
and 3
rd
Century B.C. Hellenistic Period influence
The emergence of Hellenistic culture across Europe helped defined the shape of higher learning
prompting the development of the academic institution. From this grew 3 different types of
institutions: Philosophical, Rhetorical, and Research.

1
st
Century A.D. Christian Influence
Christian influence begins to become more prevalent in Roman culture and ultimately in relation
to education. As time goes on we see religious influence specifically from denominations of
Christian origin in the purpose and planning of education and educational institutions.


HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 3


11
th
Century A.D. Cathedral Schools
Churches begin to provide teaching and some set aside funds in order to provide free education.
The trend grew across Europe as more church leadership provided support for their clergy.
Ultimately these schools transform into universities as more advanced learning was exercised
within these cathedral schools.

1167 Oxford University
Oxford University is established. It is the oldest fixed site university in Europe.

1636 - 1769 Colonial Colleges
First institution of higher education, Harvard, established in 1636 soon followed by William and
Mary, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Rutgers, and Pennsylvania. All of these
institutions would be utilized to train clergymen and ultimately prepare statesmen.

1654 4 year program
Harvard shifts its course of study from a 3 year program to a 4 year program.

1742 First womens boarding school established

1749 Benjamin Franklins Plan
Benjamin Franklin created a plan to organize the College of Philadelphia. The plans provided a
new vision for higher education governance and instructional methods. His plan provided a
separate formation from government entities and encouraged offering more modern programs.

1828 The Yale Report
A committee of professors and the President present that foreign languages and all areas of study
are necessary for the college student to exercise all areas of their mind. Other institutions would
use this report to support their argument for expansion of curriculum, specifically in the area of
liberal arts.

1833 Oberlin College
The first college to accept women is Oberlin College

1837 Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke becomes the first all-women college established.

Mid to Late 18
th
Century From Tutors to Professors
American institutions begin to provide more permanent positions to faculty and slowly the role is
viewed to be an acceptable career path. By late 18
th
Century professorships and permanent
faculty positions are established.

Mid-18
th
Century Teaching Science
By this point, Harvard had acquired equipment to facilitate the teaching and instruction in the
field of science. American Higher Education also sees the implementation of the laboratory in
the use of teaching science.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4


1850 Intercollegiate Athletic Events
Officially sanctioned athletic events begin in this decade.

1851 Diversification of Degrees
Starting with Harvard and Brown, higher education in America begins to experience multiple
program tracks and begins to award degrees that would provide distinction in order to identify
the track the student had studied.

1860s and 1870s Growth and Change
By the late 1860s research, graduate education, advanced degrees and expansion of areas of
study were implemented at most institutions. Womens education experienced growth as
Wellesley, Smith and Vassar Womens colleges opened. Admission requirements expanded as
well. English composition exemplified by a short essay was required to be provided with
application for admission and still is examined today on most applications for admission.

1862 Morrill Act
The Morrill Act of 1862 Provided federal land for the creation of agricultural or mechanical
institutions in every state, thus prompting agricultural and scientific research.

1896 Plessy v. Ferguson
This landmark case established the practice of separate but equal. This decision allowed
segregation to continue and kept minority students from enrolling in universities as there were
institutions for colored students established to provide instruction.

1890 Morrill Act
The Morrill Act of 1890 provided federal funds to states for support and maintenance of
institutions that had agricultural or mechanical emphasis. It also prevented discrimination
through withholding of funds from institutions for colored students.

1900 Association of American Universities
The AAU provided guidance and set standards for research and graduate study.

Early 1900s Junior Colleges
The junior college is created, seeing successful growth and originally supported by research
universities.

1906 NCAA
The IAAUS officially was established in 1906, and was renamed, the National Collegiate
Athletic Association, in 1910. The NCAA became a governing body that would provide
guidance to all intercollegiate athletics and held the first NCAA national collegiate Track and
Field Championships in 1921.

1916 ROTC 1918 SATC
The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and the Students Army Training Corps (SATC)
were formed in order to provide an opportunity for a student to enlist in the military and receive
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 5

military training while staying on campus. These students were involved in many research
initiatives that would support the war effort. The increased research encouraged a new
relationship between the military and the higher education institutions.

1930s College Education Examination Board
The College Education Examination Board created examinations that would be used by elite
institutions in order to determine an admission decision. The SAT provided nationally
comparable scores that could be used if an applicant was applying to multiple universities. The
national acceptance of the SAT allowed universities to recruit students from all over instead of
reaching only regional recruits.

1930 1945 Indian Reorganization Act
Designated federal funds for Native American Higher Education

1938 1941 The Black Bruins
UCLA had the countrys most integrated football team. Their success brought attention to the
lack of integration in higher education.

1940s Dominance in Scientific Research
A major benefit of the establishment of the university was the excellence and quality of scientific
research. By the 1920s research in American physical and natural science surpassed that of
European institutions. The rapid growth can be attributed to the efforts in research to support war
efforts.

1940 Tenure for Faculty
The American Association of University Professors released a Statement of Principle. The
statement argued that tenure was a right and that it shouldnt be prevented because the faculty
has an unpopular point of view. It also argued that faculty should have a role in institutional
governance. This organization and its efforts played an important part in protecting faculty rights
and giving them more input.

1941 1945 WWII
World War II impacted higher education by depleting it in the areas of budget issues, a decrease
in capital expenditures, a decline in enrollment, loss of income, and downsizing. The need for
soldiers and the limited number of women enrolled deeply affected the institutions. The need for
workers also pulled enrolled students away from schooling to do their part.

1944 G.I. Bill
The Servicemens Readjustment Act, or the G.I. Bill, was an educational program established to
provide all veterans who filled the published eligibility criteria educational benefits. Benefits and
tuition were connected with the student not the institutions to support the veteran at any
institution of their choice whether it was a university, a junior college, trade schools, vocational
programs, or graduate and professional schools.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 6


1947 The Truman Commission Report
The report called for the establishment of public community colleges that would charge
reasonable tuition, offer comprehensive programming with a focus on civic responsibilities, and
be of service to their communities.

1950 National Science Foundation
The NSF distributed $75 million in grants in support of scientific and engineering disciplines.

1954 1972 Civil Rights Movement
Carried out to achieve racial equality in the US. It ultimately ended racial discrimination and
affected all higher educational institutions causing them to integrate and through affirmative
action policies required a demonstrated effort to achieve racial equality.

1954 Brown v. Board of Education
While Brown was concerned about getting his elementary aged daughter admitted to her
elementary school, the ruling affected higher education as well stating that segregation in
education was unconstitutional and illegal. The outcome was the desegregation of educational
institutions.

1964 Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act banned places of employment as well as educational institutions from
making hiring or admission decisions based on race or gender. This helped eliminate road blocks
to admission for minorities and women allowing them educational opportunities they had not had
previously had. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also prohibited all race based admissions
decisions and ultimately prompted affirmative action policies in University admission offices to
make a demonstrated effort to achieve racial equality.

1965 Higher Education Act
The Higher Education Act provided the opportunity for higher education accessible to practically
every American. The federal Pell Grant program is included in the legislation.

1970 Bama vs. USC
Bear Bryant was instrumental in breaking down barriers to black athletes in the south. His plan
opened up the University of Alabama and ultimately the rest of the southern institutions to
integrating football.

1972 Title IX
Title IX ensured gender equality for male and female students enrolled in educational program
that accepted federal funding. This not only impacted admissions practices, it also affects the
HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION 7

scholarship opportunities in intercollegiate athletics ensuring and equal number of male and
female sports.

1973 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
This part of the Rehabilitation act prohibited disability-based admission decisions in federally
funded programs of higher education.

1978 California v. Bakke
California v. Bakke was one of many landmark Supreme Court cases that ended affirmative
action policies requiring race-based decisions in university admissions.

1980s Funding Focus
The economic changes in the 80s caused higher education institutions to see a reduction in
state/federal funding. This prompted the pursuit of increased fundraising through growing alumni
support, private industry partnerships, and improvement of foundations for further private
support.

1983 Bob Jones University v. United States
The Internal Revenue Service refused tax exempt status to Bob Jones University because of their
discriminating practices. The US Supreme Court Ruled that institutions discriminating would be
denied tax exempt privileges.

1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
This legislation protects individuals with disabilities and in the case of education it protects the
student and the institutions. Institutions can deny admission to a student if their disability
prevents them from participating in the program in any way. On the other hand the institution
must provide accommodations to students with disabilities in order to allow them the opportunity
to participate in a program as long as they meet the academic and technical requirements.

1990s Multicultural focus
Multicultural studies become more of a focus in the 1990s in student activities and curriculum.

1990s Technology influence
With the increased use of the internet and computer technology, higher education institutions
became more technologically integrated. Online instruction was created to accommodate
distance learners and increase accessibility to more students.