Overview Philosopher and novelist George Santayana (1905) famously wrote, “Those

Overview
Philosopher and novelist George Santayana (1905) famously wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Social, cultural, and economic influences have always shaped the development of higher education curricula, culture, practices, and governance. As an educational leader, having an in-depth understanding of the forces that impact your efforts will make you more effective in doing your job and shaping the future. We learn from the past to guide us to a better future; thus, understanding what has and has not worked in the history of higher education is imperative to future success.
The final paper for this course should encompass the history of a subject, its current practices, and how we may use the past to anticipate our future. You may focus on a topic of your choosing, but you must examine the history, current practices, and future implications for the topic.
Throughout your career, you will have to analyze issues to effect change. A search for understanding begins with identifying a topic and a meaningful reason for the analysis.
For example, if you currently hold a job in distance education, or decide this would be a subject you would like to explore for the final, you would include an examination of the history of distance education and look at its past, present, and future implications. You would explore the early stages of distance education from early correspondence courses through courses offered via television, and then to the present, where we have moved to completely online universities.
Some examples of possible topics are: continuing education credits; history of accountability to stakeholders (performance-based funding); history of competitive advantage; history of for-profits to nonprofits; history of funding; history of advising; use of technology in higher education; and cost of education, financial aid, and student debt.
Because course discussion posts examine specific types of institutions, you should avoid analyzing a specific institution for a final project.
Take the time now to read the course project to ensure you understand the intent of the final paper and review the Historical Review of Higher Education rubric for the final assignment in Week 10 to understand how your work will be assessed.
Assignment Instructions
Your first assignment is to create a one-page description of a topic and the purpose for your course project. A helpful link to the Capella library is included in Resources.
To establish a basis for sound analysis, complete the following:
Introduce the topic. Describe the issue, event, or concept you intend to explore clearly and succinctly.
Describe central ideas. Discuss the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of this topic in higher education.
Connect past to future. Explain the relationship of your topic to contemporary issues or practices in higher education.
Apply your topic to real-world situations. Describe your reason for choosing the topic. Connect your topic with the role it plays, the impact it has or will have in your current or future professional setting.
Submit your topic for instructor approval.
Reference
Santayana, G. (1905). The life of reason. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Resources
Capella University Library.
Week 3 Assignment – Topic
Week 3 Assignment – Topic
Criteria Ratings Pts
Propose a specific topic related to the history of higher education.
view longer description
25 to >21.25 pts
DISTINGUISHED
Proposes a specific topic related to the history of higher education and offers evidence of how that history influences present-day issues in higher education.
21.25 to >17.5 pts
PROFICIENT
Proposes a specific topic related to the history of higher education.
17.5 to >0 pts
BASIC
Proposes a topic related to the history of higher education, but the topic is too broad.
0 pts
NON_PERFORMANCE
Does not propose a specific topic related to the history of higher education.
/ 25 pts
Describe the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of a selected topic in higher education.
view longer description
25 to >21.25 pts
DISTINGUISHED
Analyzes the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of a selected topic in higher education and identifies the assumptions around which these ideas were formed.
21.25 to >17.5 pts
PROFICIENT
Describes the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of a selected topic in higher education.
17.5 to >0 pts
BASIC
Identifies but does not describe the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of a selected topic in higher education.
0 pts
NON_PERFORMANCE
Does not identify the central ideas relating to the historical origins and development of a selected topic in higher education.
/ 25 pts
Develop a purpose statement that establishes a contemporary topic’s significance to the history of higher education.
view longer description
25 to >21.25 pts
DISTINGUISHED
Develops a purpose statement that establishes a contemporary topic’s significance to the history of higher education, supported by personal and scholarly examples.
21.25 to >17.5 pts
PROFICIENT
Develops a purpose statement that establishes a contemporary topic’s significance to the history of higher education.
17.5 to >0 pts
BASIC
Develops a purpose statement that establishes a contemporary topic’s significance to the history of higher education, but the statement is unclear or incomplete.
0 pts
NON_PERFORMANCE
Does not develop a purpose statement that establishes a contemporary topic’s significance to the history of higher education.
/ 25 pts
Explain the relationship of a selected topic to contemporary issues or practices in higher education.
view longer description
25 to >21.25 pts
DISTINGUISHED
Analyzes the potential relevance of the chosen topic regarding the history of higher education to today’s current practices and organizational structures, identifying pertinent examples from academic research.
21.25 to >17.5 pts
PROFICIENT
Explains the potential relevance of the chosen topic regarding the history of higher education to today’s current practices and organizational structures.
17.5 to >0 pts
BASIC
Identifies, but does not explain, the potential relevance of the chosen topic regarding the history of higher education to today’s current practices and organizational structures.
0 pts
NON_PERFORMANCE
Does not identify the potential relevance of the chosen topic regarding the history of higher education to today’s current practices and organizational structures.
/ 25 pts
Total Points: 0
Choose a submission type