America likes to see itself as a meritocracy, and college as an engine of social mobility. In reality, writes Richard V. Reeves, “higher education has become a powerful means for perpetuating class divisions across generations.” How this happened and what colleges can do about it are the themes of this special issue of The Chronicle Review.
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The ReviewCollege and the End of Upward Mobility
Higher education has widened the gap between the wealthy and the rest. -
The Review
Higher Ed’s Dysfunctional Devotion to Meritocracy
Social and economic chasms in our country are growing wider, and higher education is part of the problem. -
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The Review
How Rich Universities Get Richer
Colleges were and are unequal, only now they are more unequal than ever before. -
The Review
What I Know About My Students
My classrooms are filled with farm kids and military vets. They know how to work hard, care about a job well done, and view education as a privilege.
