An upper division college or university is one that requires applicants to have already completed their first two years of undergraduate study at another institution. [1] These institutions traces their roots to educational ideas put forward in the late 19th and early 20th century. They were developed primarily in the United States during the 1960s in response to the growing number of community college students seeking to continue their education.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, educational leaders such as William R. Harper and David Starr Jordan sought to separate the preparatory portion of college studies from "real" university work undertaken in the third and fourth years of study. Jordan, then president of Stanford University, proposed splitting the institution into two parts in 1907 to reach this goal, however changes in the California secondary school system halted this proposal. [2] In 1914 Frank Johnson Goodnow became president of Johns Hopkins University and proposed eliminating the bachelor's degree by cutting the first two years of undergraduate work. Called the Goodnow Plan or New Plan, students would have entered Hopkins after two years of study in other universities and would have worked toward an advanced degree, bypassing the bachelor's degree.
Upper division colleges were first established as mainstream institutions in the 1950s in the United States as a means to respond to the need for educated professionals to assist in the space race. [3] While earlier efforts had been undertaken at the University of Georgia in 1858, they failed due to the onset of the Civil War. [2]
The first upper division college was the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California, which operated as an upper-division college between 1935 and 1951, before becoming the University of the Pacific in 1961. [2] This was done as part of a plan to reduce costs and increase enrollment by subletting college facilities to a high school which assumed public junior college status and funding. [2] However, disagreements between the College of the Pacific and the affiliated junior college, as well as accreditation issues resulting from the arrangement, led to the abandonment of the experiment in 1951.
The first college founded as an upper division college was University of Michigan–Flint, which was founded in 1956 as Flint College, however it converted to four year status in 1965 as a result of changes in the development of the region. [2]
Another notable early upper division college was Florida Atlantic University, which opened in 1964 and served third and fourth year undergraduate students, as well as graduate students. Later, in 1984, Florida Atlantic expanded to include first and second year undergraduates and ceased to be an upper division college. [4]
At the time they were created, upper division colleges were seen as a way to better manage community resources and provide opportunities for students. [5] It was thought that separating the upper division from the lower division of coursework would improve the relationship between undergraduate and graduate programs. [6] Additionally, some believed that by creating 2+2 programs between community colleges and upper division colleges, students could continue their education without the state needing to expand existing community colleges into full four year colleges. [7] Some commentators at the time saw the widespread development of upper division schools, in the same way community colleges had expanded in the prior decades. [8]
By the 1980s and 1990s, many states began to move away from the upper-division model. Despite concerns of crowding out of community colleges, it was felt that offering only the upper-level courses resulted in a poor public image and prevented the establishment of a full university setting. [9] Many of the students seeking to transfer from a community college desired a full college experience, including electives and extra-curricular activities. The inability to reach a large critical mass prevented the upper division colleges from competing effectively with four year colleges. [6] Some upper-division colleges such as the City University of New York's Richmond College merged with community colleges, while others such as Florida Atlantic and SUNY Institute of Technology opened their doors to freshman and sophomore undergraduates. [10] [11] As of 2009 [update] very few upper-division colleges remain in the United States, with almost all merging with community colleges or converting to four year status.
| Name | Started upper division | Ended upper division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens State University | 1975 | — | Current public upper division college |
| College of the Pacific | 1935 | 1951 | Expanded to four years |
| Concordia Senior College | 1957 | 1977 | Closed |
| Florida International University | 1972 | 1981 | Expanded to four years |
| Garfield Senior College | 1971 | 1985 | Merged with Lake Erie College |
| Governors State University | 1971 | 2014 | GSU enrolled its first freshman class in August 2014 |
| John F. Kennedy University | 1965 | 2020 | Closed |
| Metropolitan State University | 1973 | 1994 | Expanded to four years |
| Penn State Harrisburg | 1966 | 2004 | Expanded to four years |
| Resurrection University | 2003 | — | Current private upper division college |
| Richmond College | 1965 | 1976 | Merged with community college |
| SUNY Institute of Technology | 1966 | 2003 | Expanded to four years |
| Texas A&M International University | 1969 | 1995 | Expanded to four years |
| Texas A&M University–Central Texas | 2009 | — | Current public upper division college |
| Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi | 1973 | 1994 | Expanded to four years |
| Texas A&M University–San Antonio | 2009 | 2016 | Expanded to four years |
| Texas A&M University–Texarkana | 1971 | 2008 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Baltimore | 1975 | 2005 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Hawaii–West Oahu | 1976 | 2007 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Houston–Clear Lake | 1971 | 2011 | Ended upper-division in 2011 by statute; Admitted first freshman class in August 2014 |
| University of Houston–Victoria | 1973 | 2009 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Illinois at Springfield | 1969 | 2001 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Michigan–Dearborn | 1959 | 1971 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Michigan–Flint | 1956 | 1965 | Expanded to four years |
| University of North Florida | 1972 | 1984 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Texas at Brownsville | 1973 | 1998 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Texas at Dallas | 1969 | 1990 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Texas at Tyler | 1971 | 1998 | Expanded to four years |
| University of Texas of the Permian Basin | 1973 | 1991 | Expanded to four years |
| University of West Florida | 1967 | 1983 | Expanded to four years |
| Walsh College | 1968 | — | Current private NFP upper division |
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school. The term usually refers to a higher educational institution that provides workforce education and college transfer academic programs. Some institutions maintain athletic teams and dormitories similar to their university counterparts.
Liberal arts education is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. Liberal arts takes the term art in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. Liberal arts education can refer to studies in a liberal arts degree course or to a university education more generally. Such a course of study contrasts with those that are principally vocational, professional, or technical, as well as religiously-based courses.
The State University of New York is a system of public colleges and universities in the State of New York. It is one of the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States. Led by chancellor John B. King, the SUNY system has 91,182 employees, including 32,496 faculty members, and some 7,660 degree and certificate programs overall and a $13.08 billion budget. Its flagship universities are Stony Brook University on Long Island and the University at Buffalo.
A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution.
The College of Staten Island (CSI) is a public university in Staten Island, New York. It is one of the 11 four-year senior colleges within the City University of New York system. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies lead to bachelor's and associate degrees. The master's degree is awarded in 13 professional and liberal arts and sciences fields of study. A clinical doctorate is awarded by the department of physical therapy. The college participates in doctoral programs of the CUNY Graduate Center in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, nursing, physics, and psychology.
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-level university student is known as an undergraduate, while students of higher degrees are known as graduate students. Upon completion of a number of required and elective courses as part of an undergraduate program, the student would earn the corresponding degree. In some other educational systems, undergraduate education is postsecondary education up to and including the level of a master's degree; this is the case for some science courses in Britain and some medicine courses in Europe.
Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the following two decades and was granted university status in 1969. It is one of two public universities in Oregon that are located in a large city. It is governed by a board of trustees. PSU is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York. The college was founded in 1819 as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York and operated under that name until 1823, when it was renamed Hamilton Theological and Literary Institution, often called Hamilton College (1823–1846), then Madison College (1846–1890), and its present name since 1890.
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving African Americans. Most of these institutions were founded during the Reconstruction era and are concentrated in the Southern United States. During the period of racial segregation in the United States, the majority of American institutions of higher education served predominantly white students, and disqualified or limited black American enrollment. Later on some universities, either after expanding their inclusion of Black people and African Americans into their institutions or gaining the status of minority-serving institution, became Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).
The State University of New York Buffalo State University is a public university in Buffalo, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Buffalo State University was founded in 1871 as the Buffalo Normal School to train teachers. It offers 79 undergraduate majors with 11 honors options, 11 post baccalaureate teacher certification programs, and 64 graduate programs.
The State University of New York at Oneonta, also known as SUNY Oneonta, is a public university in Oneonta, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
The State University of New York at Delhi is a public college in Delhi, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Over 3,000 students attend the institution.
The University of West Florida is a public university in Pensacola, Florida. Established in 1963 as part of the State University System of Florida, the university sits on the third largest campus in the State University System, at 1,600 acres (650 ha). The university's mascot is Argie the Argonaut and its logo is the chambered nautilus.
The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public research university in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Its campus comprises 1,300 acres amid a natural preserve on Jacksonville's Southside. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce. FAU belongs to the 12-campus State University System of Florida and serves South Florida. Established as Florida's fifth public university in 1961, FAU has quickly grown to become one of the largest institutions in the state by enrollment. Florida Atlantic University is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Florida Atlantic offers more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs within its 10 colleges. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Nova Southeastern University is a private research university with its main campus in Davie, Florida. The university consists of 14 total colleges, centers, and schools offering over 150 programs of study. The university offers professional degrees in the social sciences, law, business, osteopathic medicine, allopathic medicine, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, education, occupational therapy, and nursing. As of 2019, 20,576 students were enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, with more than 170,000 alumni. With a main campus located on 314 acres in Davie, Florida, NSU operates additional campuses in Dania Beach, North Miami Beach, Tampa Bay-Clearwater and centers throughout the state of Florida. There is also a center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In the United States, higher education is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary education. It is also referred as post-secondary education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education. It covers stages 5 to 8 on the International ISCED 2011 scale. It is delivered at 4,360 Title IV degree-granting institutions, known as colleges or universities. These may be public or private universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for-profit colleges. US higher education is loosely regulated by the government and by several third-party organizations.
William Nottingham High School is a public high school located at 3100 East Genesee Street in Syracuse, New York. Part of the Syracuse City School District, the high school has an enrollment of about 1350 students in grades 9–12.
The University of the State of New York (USNY), its policy-setting Board of Regents, and its administrative arm, the New York State Education Department, oversee all public primary, middle-level, and secondary education in the state. The New York City Department of Education, which manages the public school system in New York City, is the largest school district in the United States, with more students than the combined population of eight U.S. states. Over 1 million students are taught in more than 1,200 separate schools.
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