The University of California: Creating, Nurturing, and Maintaining Academic Quality in a Public University Setting by C. Judson King (January 2018)

Abstract: 

150 years following its founding in 1868, the University of California is regarded by many as the most successful and highly respected public research university in the world.  In The University of California: Creating, Nurturing, and Maintaining Academic Quality in a Public University Setting published by the Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE), former Berkeley and University of California provost and former Center director Judson King explores and analyzes the factors that have been most important for that success, what makes UC tick, and what approaches have made it tick best.  

This in-depth analysis covers the initial creation of academic quality, the strikingly successful spread and adaptations of that quality to the nine newer campuses, and the ways in which academic quality is sustained within the multi-campus university.

The author’s background gives him an unusually comprehensive view of UC’s history.  A member of the UC Berkeley faculty for 55 years, King has been a prominent chemical engineering faculty member.  Administratively, he was successively chair of that department, Dean of the College of Chemistry, and Provost – Professional Schools and Colleges at Berkeley.  He was next Vice Provost for Research for a year and Provost and Senior Vice President – Academic Affairs for nearly a decade university-wide.  He then returned to the Berkeley campus where he directed the Center for Studies in Higher Education for over a decade.

The book is currently available in two complementary formats – a direct download in electronic form, and a print, bound book.  Open-access, free direct download of the electronic form is available from the University of California’s eScholarship electronic publishing site.  The print book form may be obtained for $35 from Amazon.  The electronic form has many live links to urls and has photographs that are in color when available.  The interior of the print book version is grayscale.  The two forms have the same pagination and may thereby readily be used interchangeably, e. g., the book form for convenient reading and exploration, and the electronic form for accessing links directly.



Contents

INTRODUCTION: The University of California: A Remarkable Success Story · The History of the University of California as It Affects Structure, Governance, and Academics · The Kerr Legacy

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE: Interactions with State Government: Constitutional Status and Oversight · The California Master Plan · Structure, Organization, and Internal Budgeting of UC: One University, with Campuses Empowered · Shared Governance · Operational Governance of the Multicampus University

CREATING, SUSTAINING, AND SPREADING EXCELLENCE: Creating Research Excellence: The Physical Sciences at Berkeley · Spreading Excellence: Developing New Campuses · Sustaining Excellence: Faculty Appointments and Advancement · Sustaining Excellence: Program Review, Planning, and Change

FOSTERING RESEARCH AND TEACHING: National Laboratories · Promoting and Enabling Multidisciplinary Research and Teaching

INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, THE STATE, AND INDUSTRY: Providing Access: Eligibility and Admissions · Serving the State of California and the Public · Support from the State · Relations with Industry, Technology Transfer, and Economic Development · Location

SYNOPSIS AND LOOKING FORWARD: Retrospective · The Future for the University of California and Public Research Universities

Author: 
C. Judson King
Publication date: 
January 11, 2018
Publication type: 
Books