The evolution of the black higher education field, 1854--1996.

Abstract

In this dissertation, I seek to understand how adaptations made by a relatively stable set of actors alter the character of an organizational field. The black higher education field consists of those colleges and universities that began with the primary mission to educate black Americans as well as the missionary, philanthropic, and governmental organizations that provided these schools with support throughout their existence. I use multiple studies to conduct this dissertation. The first study uses historical sources to highlight the way in which field members relate to one another over time. I find that as historical events alter this field, the members use organizational identity and self-interests to modify their patterns of relationships to better reflect the current environment. The second study investigates the emergence of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) by identifying the organizational characteristics associated with joining the UNCF when it begins. I find that the number of graduates and the proportion of college level students influence a college's likelihood of joining the UNCF. In the third study, I conduct a frame analysis of the UNCF's campaign brochures. I find that the UNCF uses the brochures to frame the concept of black higher education in an effort to create meaning and coherence for the field as a whole. The fourth study investigates changes in the types of degrees black colleges' grant. I find that the predominant degree granted by both public and private colleges shifts from education to business administration following the Civil Rights Movement. Moreover, this shift precipitates an increase in the amount of homogeneity in degrees granted among the black colleges, public colleges of the south and private colleges of the northeast. The final study investigates the ability of institutional events to differentially influence enrollment patterns among the black colleges. Following the racial desegregation of higher education, public colleges experience a higher growth rate and enroll more non-black students than private colleges and following the Higher Education Act, UNCF member colleges experience a higher growth rate than private non-member colleges.