Higher education recruitment in the United States: a chronology of significant literature

ABSTRACT

Given the absence of a chronology of the historical philosophies, perspectives, and practices of recruitment within the higher education institutions in the United States, the authors have assembled an overview of the material on recruitment strategies and ideologies of American higher education institutions. Literature from and about the past aids in illuminating the current context while helping to navigate the future of higher education recruitment. The authors have identified five general periods: prior to 1920, 1921 to the end of the Second World War, the post-War decade, mid-1950s through the 1970s, and 1980s to the present. Documentation for each period varies significantly in quality and amount, with the densest data found for the two later periods. Future researchers may explore how recruitment practices and language encourage or discourage under-represented populations in higher education. Further research in other areas of educational recruitment is also suggested.

KEYWORDS:

• Recruitment history
• recruitment strategy
• recruitment philosophy
• higher education
• higher education administration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 For a summary of these early procedures please look at The Trend of College Entrance Requirements, U. S. Bureau of Education Bulletin, No.35. pub. 1925. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40217563.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Adams-Johnson

Susan Adams-Johnson, PhD, a spinto soprano, has performed in numerous oratorios, concert, operas, and operettas as well as is directing opera and musical theatre programmes. She is the co-artistic and managing director of Scissortail Productions Inc. and has served in similar positions for other fine arts non-profit organisations over the last 20 years in Oklahoma and Texas. Dr Adams-Johnson has studied voice with Inez Lunsford Silberg, Paul Kiesgen, W. Stephen Smith, Leonard Johnson, and Marilyn Horne. She has performed in master classes for Arrigo Pola, Domenic Argento, Richard Crist, and Marilyn Horne. While in Austin, TX, she began her directing career with the Austin Gilbert and Sullivan Society which began to develop her deep interest in working with undergraduate singers as they progress into becoming stage artists. Susan’s current research studies collegiate fine-arts recruitment, information seeking behaviours of artists, cultural capital, and post-menopausal voice issues. She has presented at conferences and workshops, including the Texas Counselling Association (TCA), as well as multiple lecture and performing series on college campuses. Additionally, she is a visiting guest archivist working with the hymnody archives of Phillips Theological Seminary.

Jeff Cranmore

Jeff Cranmore, PhD, has been a high school counsellor for the past 13 years. He has presented numerous sessions on counselling issues at a wide variety of conferences, including the Texas Counselling Association (TCA), Texas School Counseling Association, and the International Association of Truancy and Dropout Prevention. He has been awarded the TCA awards for research and scholarly writing. His research appears in a number of state and national journals. Additionally, he works as a dissertation chair and teaches doctoral psychology classes at Grand Canyon University. He holds a masters in instrumental music education and clarinet performance.

Anna M. J. Holloway

Anna M. J. Holloway, MDiv MPW, is an educator, pastoral counsellor, writer, and editor. In addition, she serves as a theatre and music critic for a metropolitan newspaper and a dramaturg for an Equity theatre company. In her work, she regularly advises students at all levels on education and career choices; she also has experience in recruiting faculty, student interns, and theatre students and professionals. She is the director of the InterReligious Understanding programme at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa.

Joel D. Wiley

Joel Wiley, MM, a tenor, completed his undergraduate studies in voice at Southern Nazarene University. He later received a Master’s in Music-Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas. He serves as Director of Admissions for the UNT College of Music and oversees the admission, application, audition, and recruitment process for the largest comprehensive music school in the United States. Mr Wiley has created a recognised and respected collegiate Ambassador programmes offering 20 tours a week to thousands of guests per year. As a singer, he made his European debut as Fenton in Verdi’s Falstaff in Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy with the Conservatorio Statale di Musica 'Gioachino Rossini'. He has numerous opera, musical theatre, and concert credits throughout the country with companies such as the Richmond Symphony, Oklahoma Opera Theater, Fort Worth Opera, Dallas Opera, and North Texas Opera Theater. He maintains an active voice teaching studio.