美国高等教育认可制度的演变、结构及权力

Evolution,Structure and Power of the Recognition System in US

美国高等教育认可制度起源于非政府的、自律性的对教育认证机构的约束和规制活动。二战后联邦政府通过立法介入高等教育认可领域,美国高等教育领域由此形成了两条并行的高等教育认可制度。在不同的价值传统和功能目标下,两种认可制度之间既有合作支持也有权力冲突。代表高等教育自治理想的"自治性认可权力"与代表政府管理职能的"他治性认可权力"相互作用,此消彼长,影响了美国高等教育质量保证的走向。20世纪末公共问责运动的兴起,为现有高等教育认可制度的"二元"结构注入了新的影响力量。

The system of recognition of US higher education originated from non-government, selfregulated activities. The system of recognition of federal government is built after the World War Ⅱ, and there is also a parallel line in quality assurance system of US higher Education. Under different traditional values, functions and aims, there are cooperation and conflict in the two systems. This study analyses the history, institutional framework and conflict of the two types of power. The main finding is that there are two types of power in the recognition system of quality assurance in the US higher education： the autonomic power, representing the ideas of the academic institutions; the heteronomous power, representing the jurisdiction of the government. The study also discusses the emergence of public accountability movement and its influence on the development of US recognition system.