Early Development Studies On American Research Universities

As one of the most developed countries in higher education, America has the perfecthigher education system in the world. Since 1920s, it has been the center of scientificeducation and its research university plays an irreplaceable role in the development ofAmerican economy and society. The establishment of Johns Hopkins University(HopkinsUniversity after this) is a turning point in American higher education history. It initiates thebeginning and leads a developing trend of research university in America. The block ofresearch university, which came into being by the symbol of the foundation of Americanuniversity association in 1990, is a very important force in the development of the society.This thesis employs the forming process of American research university as a clue,targeting for the establishment and development of Hopkins University and using Gilman'sschooling philosophy as a core. It gives a full analysis of the history of Hopkins Universityfrom it's prime period to the slow development period. The whole article is consisted of sevenparts, including the preface, five chapters as the main body and experience and lessons. Thepreface mainly talks about the significance of the topic, document summary, study content,method and innovative point. The first chapter analyses the foundation background ofAmerican research university, the needs of new type university as the society changing andthe characteristics of running schools in tradition and also the search of postgraduateseducation. It also focuses on the influence that the European continent, especially Germanuniversity exerted on the processing of American research university. In the followingchapter two , three, and four, I discuss the foundation, prosperous period and slowingdevelopment period of the first modern research university in American higher education,president Gilman's schooling philosophy and practice, the particular scholarship that attracts alot of outstanding postgraduates, the visiting professors guarantee a group of excellentteachers. It also study the problems of Hopkins university's confronting after 1889, such asfunds reduced, loose cooperation with society, fierce competition among universities. Chapterfive explains the bloom of the block of research university and its significance. Under theinfluence of Hopkins university, the reformed and new found universities promote theestablishment of the association, the academic study of profession specialization, thecombination of learning, notating and domesticating.;The competition invoked the rapiddevelopment of research university, which improves higher education system in America andhas great influence in the world. Chapter six is the part of summarizing experience andlessons. It studies the conditions of the school foundation. First the creative president of theschool is the key to success. Second , the outstanding teachers are the basic guarantee. Third,good environment is also indispensable to the success. It also studies the main factor to keepthe research university running well. The pursuit of excellent schooling philosophy is a basicpremise, and the first-rate teachers is the everlasting driving force. The support of the federalgovernment is also a key point.In general, we will get benefit experience through doing research on the foundation,prosperous and slow development of Hopkins University.