Going to College in the Sixties

Going to College in the Sixties examines higher education in America during a transformative decade. The book follows the experiences of students, faculty, and administrators across different types of institutions - from elite private universities to public colleges and community colleges. The narrative tracks major shifts in campus culture, institutional policies, and student life between 1960-1970. Key topics include civil rights activism, changing admission standards, evolving gender roles, and the impact of the Vietnam War on college communities. Thelin draws from archival records, media coverage, and firsthand accounts to reconstruct the period's defining moments and ongoing trends. The text balances coverage of headline-making protests and social movements with details about day-to-day student experiences and administrative decisions. The book presents the 1960s as a pivotal period that reshaped American higher education and continues to influence modern academia. Through its exploration of this era, the work raises enduring questions about the purpose of college, institutional responsibility, and the relationship between education and social change.

Readers value the historical accuracy and research depth of Thelin's account of 1960s college life, with multiple reviewers noting his balanced treatment of both major universities and smaller institutions. The inclusion of financial data and administrative perspectives provides context many other books on the era omit. Readers appreciate: - Detailed archival research and primary sources - Coverage of both student activism and daily campus life - Statistical data on enrollment and costs Common criticisms: - Writing can be dry and academic - Some repetition between chapters - Limited coverage of community colleges Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) One history professor reviewer noted: "Thelin avoids nostalgia while examining both the era's achievements and shortcomings." Several readers mentioned the book works better as a reference text than a continuous narrative, with one calling it "more useful for research than casual reading."

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🎓 Author John R. Thelin is a professor at the University of Kentucky and has served as the president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. 📚 The book explores how watershed moments like the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War protests, and the rise of counterculture shaped campus life and university policies. 🏫 College enrollment in the 1960s nearly doubled, growing from 3.6 million students in 1960 to 7.1 million by 1970. ✊ The book documents how traditionally conservative dress codes and strict campus regulations gave way to more relaxed policies as students demanded greater personal freedom. 🗓️ Rather than focusing solely on major protests and activism, the book examines day-to-day student experiences, from dormitory life to dating customs to changing classroom dynamics.