Running head: Historical Timeline

Historical Timeline
Coco Roberts
Georgia Southern University

Historical Timeline

HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION

13th Century Founding and Establishing of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges
First English speaking colleges to develop. The colleges developed a collegiate system
that consisted of smaller independent colleges that make up a university. Each college
had its own heritage, tradition, funding and emphases (Thelin, 2004, 2011). The colonial
colleges in the U.S. followed this pattern by combining instruction with certification.

1636

Harvard University is Founded

First college founded in the United States. Harvard followed after the curriculum and
housing structure of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges. The curriculum of Trivium and
Quadrivium were used during this timeframe and it impacted higher education in the way
that it helped to develop what we can refer to as core classes. The two studies consisted
of basic grammar and logic as well as liberal arts.

1693

William and Mary College Founded

One of the colonial colleges and one of their focuses would be to educate Native
Americans and teach them Christian beliefs.

1693-1769

Eight Additional Colonial Colleges Develop

The following are known as the Colonial Colleges. They are the first nine higher
education schools. These colleges are prestigious because of their heritage. They are:
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, William and Mary, Pennsylvania University, Columbia
University, Brown University, Rutgers, and Dartmouth College.

1828

Yale Report
This report disproved the idea of changing the traditional curriculum of higher education.
Because of the industrial revolution, many thought that students should start to focus on
agriculture and learn basic trades to make a living. Leaders at Yale University created a
report that stated that the traditional curriculum of universities was the knowledge for
students.

Historical Timeline

1823

Alexander Twilight
The first African American to graduate form a college in the United States. Received a
degree from Middlebury College in Vermont.

1833

Oberlin College
The first college to grant admission to women and African Americans. This college is
well-known for going against traditional barriers during this time period.

1862

Morrill Land Grant Act

Had a major impact on higher education. Made it possible for western states to establish
colleges which were called land-grant colleges. The focus of these colleges were
agriculture and mechanic arts.

1890

Morrill Act 1890

States were allowed to sell land and use the proceeds to establish colleges. These colleges
would focus on the studies of agriculture, home economics and mechanical arts. This act
also open the door up for sixteen African American land-grant colleges to be established
throughout the south. The act stated that equal funds had to be established for blacks as
well as whites when dealing with land grants.

1890-1910

Creation of Institution Symbols

Historical Timeline

During this time period colleges started to adopt institutional colors and mascots
that would give them a signature identity. The rise of football and playing rivalry
schools increased and the development of hiring professional athletic staff came
into play.

1892

First African American to integrate a College Squad

William Henry Lewis was the first African American to integrate with a college squad.
He join the Harvard football team and then later became an assistant coach, which was a
first for black as well.

1915

Founding of AAUP

AAUP standing for the American Association of Professors; an organization formed to

ensure academic freedom for faculty members. This organization addresses any issues
that may arise with higher education and faculty and protects the academic freedom of
professors.
1944

Transcript of Servicemens Readjustment Act (GI Bill)

Largest grant awarded in history by the Federal Government to World War II veterans.
This was an effort to help soldiers adjust back to normal life. Many veterans took
advantage of this opportunity.

1954

Brown v. Board of Education

This case ruled that racial segregation in higher education was unconstitutional. This was
the beginning of African Americans having the opportunity to go to college.

1956

Higher Education Act of 1965

Historical Timeline

This act allowed opportunity grants and other financial aid programs to assist
disadvantaged students. This increase the enrollment of minorities greatly in colleges and
universities.

1960s Increase in Community Colleges

During the 1960s a demand for two-year intuitions came about. It promoted transfer
credits to a four year university as well as provide adult education and community service
programs. Student enrollment increase from 400,000 students in 1959 to 4,000,000
students in 1971.

1960s Affirmative Action

The term developed in the 1960s and came from the civil rights movement. President
Kennedy stated that affirmative action should be taken out on any employer or
educational institution that discriminates based on your race and gender.

1970s Student Protest

As the 1960s drew to a close, student protest on American campuses dominated center
stage in the higher education community, and the American public believed it was the
major issue facing the nation at that time. However, after the 1970s little was heard about
student protest (Wilson, 1979).

1972

Implementation of Title IX
Prohibiting sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal
financial aid. This open the door for many women to play sports in college.

1998

Development of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HIS)

Historical Timeline

A program developed to increase the number of Latinos that attend a college or

university. This program fall under the Higher Education Act and is geared towards low
income Hispanic students.

Reference
Thelin, J. (2004, 2011). A History of American Higher Education. Baltimore: John
Hopkins University Press.
Wilson, L. a. (1979). Student Activism in th 1970s. Higher Education, 627-640.