The Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy

The Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy seeks to define and assess the critical challenges facing colleges and universities in the present era. The Institute’s programs encourage collaborative relationships among scholars, institutional leaders and policy makers in an effort to raise public awareness about the essential roles of colleges and universities in the organization of modern societies. To that end, The Institute supports research and dialogue that enhance our understanding of higher education as an institution that both reflects and influences social, cultural, racial and economic difference.

The Institute is currently involved in two major efforts. Public forums bring distinguished scholars to address faculty, senior college administrators and university leaders, policy makers, the philanthropic community, and the media on the key challenges confronting higher education, in particular those that address questions of access, the stratification of institutions, the escalating costs of higher education, and the expansion, fragmentation and commercialization of knowledge. These discussions aim to stimulate public debate about pressing issues in higher education among a larger community of scholars, policy makers and media.

The Institute also supports faculty research in the areas of higher education policy, leadership and theory. Currently underway are studies related to minority access to higher education, linkages between federal and state policy and institutional performance, and the training and development of higher education leaders. New projects in the coming year will include studies of the education pipeline in urban communities and the role of emerging sociological theory in higher education research. These projects engage faculty and graduate students from a variety of disciplines in the study and discussion of crucial issues in higher education.

Ongoing Research:

The National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education

Teranishi's Project with the College Board, The National Commission on Asian American Research in Education, examines access and success of Asian Americans in higher education. 

The Quality Assurance Collaboration

Professor Richardson is directing the Quality Assurance Collaboration to design, develop, and ultimately offer, in collaboration with NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, a four course sequence in higher education meeting the requirements for the award of a certificate as a Quality Assurance Professional by the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). 

Faculty Colloquia and Public Forums

The Steinhardt Institute invites distinguished speakers to address researchers, policy makers, university leaders, the philanthropic community and the media regarding the key challenges that confront higher education.