New Players, Different Game

The rise of for-profit higher education is a barometer of profound changes in the nation. These institutions are poorly understood and shrouded in myth. Tierney and Hentschke offer a much needed and fascinating portrait of the for-profit sector: its origins, characteristics, future, and potential impact on traditional higher education. -- Arthur Levine, President, Woodrow Wilson Foundation An important book for everyone who cares about the health and the future of higher education. -- Barry A. Currier, President and Dean, Concord Law School Those who seek to understand this vigorous sector of postsecondary education will find this book an invaluable guide to the economic and cultural issues posed by its growth. -- David W. Breneman, Professor and Dean, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia Some observers of the recent growth of the for-profit sector of higher education in the United States have stood aghast, some have lamented, some have ranted. Tierney and Hentschke have stepped back and produced a carefully researched, detailed, and thoughtful analysis of the phenomenon of the for-profit sector. -- Joseph Duffey, Senior Vice President, Laureate International Universities; former Chancellor, University of Massachusetts This book is a must-read for all who seek to learn about the transformation occurring in higher education and the implications for the future. -- Mildred Garcia, President, Berkeley College of New York and New Jersey This book offers a framework for understanding not just the dramatic evolution and maturation of the for-profit college sector, but the broader impacts on education policy, governance, and competition across all institution types. -- Sean Gallagher, Senior Research Analyst, Eduventures, Inc. Is the rapid growth of for-profit institutions a revolutionary departure or simply the next turn of the wheel in a natural evolution of higher education? Whether you welcome this development or see it as an alarming threat, you will find this description of the new kid on the block informed, well-written, and analytical. -- Marc Tucker, President, National Center on Education and the Economy

The authors suggest that, rather than continuing their standoff, the two sectors could mutually benefit from examining each other's culture, practices, and outcomes.As the economic value of education increases, as more students seek to complete college courses while forgoing the "undergraduate experience," and as funding for public higher education decreases, the for-profit higher education sector has exploded. In New Players, Different Game, William G. Tierney and Guilbert C. Hentschke compare for-profit and not-for-profit models of higher education to assess the strengths and weaknesses of both. For-profit institutions offer a fundamentally distinct type of postsecondary education. Some critics argue the institutions are so different they should not be accepted as an integral part of the American higher education system. Here, Tierney and Hentschke explore what traditional and nontraditional colleges and universities can learn from each other, comparing how they recruit students, employ faculty, and organize instructional programs. The authors suggest that, rather than continuing their standoff, the two sectors could mutually benefit from examining each other's culture, practices, and outcomes.