Higher education as a whole during this time reached a time of universalization, with more than 50% of 18 to 24 year-olds attending college. The Pell Grant in 1972 along with the Higher Education Act of 1978 provided portable grants and loans to fund education. Additionally, public enrollment was greater than private enrollment for the first time in America’s history (Thelin, 2011). With so many options available, Goucher faced challenges attracting students as a small, liberal arts college for women. Competition came from the Seven Sisters colleges that remained single sex as well as the coeducational schools in the mid-Atlantic region. Coeducation was considered in 1973 during the Perry administration due to falling enrollment numbers and climbing inflation. The College chose alternatives to address their problems at the time. Coeducation was recommended again in 1986 by President Dorsey. The Board voted to admit men starting in the fall of 1987 with support from faculty, administrators, and alumnae (Musser, 1990).
The theme of freedom stemming from the social movements of the sixties resulted in a more …show more content…
It was not intended to serve as a volume about all of higher education. It was a window into the life of a private, women’s college in the Northeast over the span of 55 years. Much of the book reads like a yearbook: specifics of the design and construction of buildings, meeting notes, and lists of faculty members. As expected, the book’s details would be interesting to alumnae connected with the College as outsiders have no concern with street names or architects.
Musser was often inconsistent in his subjects and information. He made heroes of past presidents, especially President Robertson, whose history was expressed in detail. President Perry, though only with the College for a short time, was barely discussed other than his induction