Andrew Delbanco

Looks at what a college education should be, arguing that it is a time for students to explore their passions and values, should be available to everyone, and is central to democracy in the United States.

What It Was, Is, and Should Be

College

“But a college and a university have—or should have—different purposes. The former is about transmitting knowledge of and from the past to undergraduate students so they may draw upon it as a living resource in the future. The latter is mainly an array of research activities conducted by faculty and graduate students with the aim of creating new knowledge in order to supersede the past.”

Since when has this ever been the main concern? 

“At its core, a college should be a place where young people find help for navigating the territory between adolescence and adulthood.” 

College quotes

Join the club