The changing world of Higher Ed

There are lots of opinions about what is wrong with Higher Ed., what has happened, what needs to be done, etc.  It's a big issue and, like most big issues, there are many ways to examine it.  One thing is pretty clear, however, and that is the fact that Higher Ed. has increasingly become an organizational form expected to address social problems.  Thus Higher Ed. continues to add departments that are, viewed in the best light, forms of social support for students who are less and less prepared to do college work.  The graph below is an interesting snapshot of this trend.