History of Harvard College and Yale - Essay Example

According to U-s-history.com (2017), the history of both Harvard College and Yale has a significant influence on the United States higher education. For instance, the history of both schools promotes the original purpose of higher education in the American colonies. When the American colonies stated higher education, they had the main motive of preparing men to serve in the clergy. Therefore, Harvard College was started by the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed by others such as Yale to ensure that more men are prepared to serve in the clergy. Since 1636, Harvard College and Yale have continued influencing higher education in America because they are widely considered as historical, educational pacesetters in the United States.

The history of Harvard College is influential because the scope of the school stretches beyond the traditional classroom. For instance, Harvard students and, faculty as well as, staff have global leadership responsibilities in a broad variety of disciplines (Harvard.edu, 2017). In fact, some of the disciplines and faculties attract both national and international recognition. To match the status of Harvard College or even do as Harvard College does, several colleges across the United States are enrolling students across the globe even if it means providing long distance learning.

On the other hand, the history of Yale has changed higher education in several such as the creation of an urban university in the country. In 1828, there was dissatisfaction with the condition of higher education in America, which resulted in demands for alterations to the curriculum (U-s-history.com, 2017). However, Yale resisted by organizing a group of educational progressives to dialogue on the likelihood of establishing an urban university. In the process, Yale highlighted various factors that need to be considered and implemented by higher education in the United States.

First of all, a university should not dedicate exclusively to any one department or discipline of learning. As well, a university needs to open its gates and welcome all valuable truth that molds students to make them better global citizens. For good measure, through the report of George Bancroft, Yale ensured that higher education does not sustain any specific branch of science through the sanction of prescription. Still, in 1828, Yale made it clear that there should be no form of the continuance of favoritism in educational activities of universities. Into the bargain, George Bancroft drafted a letter of intellectual mort mains to create awareness on allowing every division of human knowledge to promote the degree of dominance (U-s-history.com, 2017).

Through the discussion held by educational progressives in 1830, there was the establishment of New York University later in 1831 as well as several Protestant colleges during the crisis of 1837. Yale also worked hard to ensure that the Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education was formed in 1843 in New York City to promote higher education. Also, the organization was formed to raise funds to support institutions of higher education.

Between 1846 and 1849, Harvard College served as the training ground for the intellectual elite of the United States. Lessons provided at the school emphasized that higher education should provide realistic instruction to every individual who would get involved in the industry (U-s-history.com, 2017). Also, the lessons convinced people that American universities, academies, and schools need to be American instead of Prussian. As the training ground for the intellectual elite, Harvard College insisted that there should be a comprehensive understanding of the genius of American higher education institutions as well as educational necessities of the American people.

Since Yale and Harvard College were formed at a time in history when slavery and racial segregation was the order of the day, the two learning institutions worked to ensure that institutions of higher learning observe standards of Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC). The standards provide that students who complete a higher education program qualify to be educational leaders with both the ability and knowledge to facilitate the success of all students. Also, ELCC ensures that higher education promotes comprehensive professional growth plans for teaching staff and makes sure that students act with integrity and in an ethical manner.

Following the historical success and influence of Yale and Harvard College, the two institutions of higher learning have created stiff competition from other universities that also want to be world class and accomplished. The competition has, in turn, transformed higher education in the United States. For example, to match qualities of Yale and Harvard College, Hampton University has a student dress code that promotes socially acceptable manners in higher education (Thelin, 2004). Also, the dress code of Hampton University requires students to use attire that is appropriate to particular activities and occasions.

Moreover, through creating competition in higher education, Yale and Harvard College have ensured that there is no academic dishonesty, cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and interference in higher education. The competition has also transformed higher education because computing and telecommunication technologies have been established to advance research and administrative activities in institutions of higher learning. Higher education also enjoys advanced teaching and learning as a result of the historical competition created by Yale and Harvard College.

References

Harvard.edu. (2017). Harvard University. Retrieved from https://www.harvard.edu/about-harvard/harvard-glance/honors. Accessed on 2nd November 2017.

Thelin, J. R. (2004). A history of American higher education. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

U-s-history.com. (2017). Higher Education in America. Retrieved from http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2893.html. Accessed on 2nd November 2017.