从印第安纳大学看美国公立高等教育理念的磨蚀

The Oscillation of American Public Higher Education:A Case Study of Indiana University

本文从印第安纳大学群体记忆的视角审视美国高等教育理念在实践层面的更迭变迁。以过往文献少见的群体口述的方式,观察美国国家宏观高等教育政策变革在大学中观层面和微观层面产生的后波效应。20世纪70年代之后,各州政府紧缩拨款政策,公立大学被迫另辟经费来源,对所在州的公益承诺遂成空文,组织使命日渐游移。大学内部的各层肌理均面临着“左”与“右”的价值抉择。受访的一代学人彼时正值盛年,却在“新”与“旧”的价值拉锯中遭遇了深刻的角色冲突。他们虽在内心深层顾念昔日的大学理念,但在行为表层却又不得不让步妥协,成为矛盾性和转折性的一代。当他们完全移交组织责任后,昔日的大学理念乏人传承,美国公立高等教育的实践理念将被改写。

This research observes the supersession of American public higher education ideals by collective memories.Based on the analysis of generation oral history narratives,this paper captures the aftermath of macro level higher education reform,particularly the aftermath on micro institutional and personal level.In this case study,since 1970s,due to funding policy shift,“making profit”and“winning competition”become popular discourse prevailing public higher education institution,and the once benevolent commitments to local state welfare have been reduced to hallow words.American public institutions in general have been seeing a radical organization culture shift.From institutional level down all the way to personal level,all the layers are forced to make an either-or choice.The pre-neo-liberalism generation faculty has been then salt of the earth,yet was confronted with a profound and radical role conflict.Despite their adherence to the old values,they have to reconcile and compromise to the new values.Presumably,after the retirement of their generation,the traditional public higher education ideals will be redefined.