Access to higher education is becoming increasingly open for all individuals in society, regardless of socio-economic background, race, or, in many cases, academic performance. There are reasons for this opening of access. One is the enormous influence of technology. Another is the increasing corporatization of Higher Education, where institutions of higher learning have formed relationships with corporate America in the drive to increase profits and take advantage of greater economies of scale. Further, college admissions are on a downswing which makes competition among universities intense for new students. This often has the impact of undermining admissions standards and further increases access to higher education. Thus, increasing access to higher education relegates today’s debate over affirmative action, admissions standards, and remedial education placement to mere flutters and dust-ups in an ever-optimistic opening of post-secondary education.
Equal access to higher education is a fundamental principle of equality in American society. However, as with other fundamental principles, the definition of equal access has evolved over time largely shaped by federal legislation and Supreme Court decisions. Originally, affirmative action arose because of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s desire to integrate society on educational, employment, and economic levels. It was John F. Kennedy who issued Executive Order 10925 to create the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, but it was Lyndon Johnson who gathered 300 corporate CEOs together after signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act to “discuss integrating our nation’s workplaces, schools, and economic institutions” (Shelton 1).
The democratization of higher education has been a goal of American society ever since the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Affirmative action, academic standards weighting based on socioeconomic background, and other moves were taken to ensure the ope...