The goal of this compendium is to help the reader learn about the history and development of American higher education as a way of understanding the rich complexity and history of colleges and universities as social institutions of higher learning. This reader follows the basic structure of the previous two editions. The readings are presented in chronological order, thereby providing the historical context for the other major courses in the student’s higher education program. In addition to historical coverage of American higher education, the reader also includes readings on the organizational development of institutions, faculty life, curricular consideration, and student life. By providing exposure to how the curriculum evolved or how faculty life changed, enables the student to understand how academic life evolved and its role in society.