Colleges vs. Universities

Why not change the name from "college" to "university?"

Some colleges only award 2-year degrees. Other colleges award 4-year degrees. Still, other colleges award masters degrees. The same goes for universities.

Redundant: Is a college a university (or visa versa)? What's the difference? Realistically?

 

I think John Bear has said that the two terms have become interchangeable in the United States. Most often a University has more diverse offerings.

In Canada where I went to school a University was a large institution with colleges as the constituent parts of the University

Eg. University of Saskatchewan

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Medicine
College of Business

St. Thomas Moore (Affiliated College)

North

 

Rules vary. A university used to be a group of colleges. Not necessarily now. The reason Excelsior College can't be a university is that New York requires a school to three separate doctoral programs to be a university. San Francisco State University shows you can be a university without being allowed to offer doctorates. Dartmouth College shows you can offer doctorates without being a university.

 

Also interchangeable are "school" and "institute/institution" such as Naval Postgraduate School, Mass Institute of Technology (MIT), Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

 

Besides the reasons already mentioned, a change sometimes isn't feasible. For example, Boston College has everything you would want in a university....size, endowment, numerous doctoral programs, and an academic reputation that's beyond reproach.

What are their options as far as a new university name? Boston University is already taken by a school of almost equal prestige, so what's next?

"Newton University" (a good portion of BC is in the City of Newton) really doesn't sound too impressive, nor does "Boston Institute". I think Boston College is much better off with their current name....when you're that good (as Steve Levicoff has said) you don't worry about semantics.


Bruce

 

Re: Re: Colleges vs. Universities

Boston College & University.

 

Re: Re: Re: Colleges vs. Universities

TUIU combined University and Institute. How about Boston Institute College of Knowledge and University (Go ........BICK U).

North

 

Years ago, when I read through the entire 3,000-school index of the Higher Education Directory, the regionally accredited degree-granting institutions that had no school-connected noun whatsoever were Kansas Wesleyan, Cooper Union, and The Citadel. But now I note that KW has become KWU and The Citadel has become The Citadel Military College. But Cooper Union is still Cooper Union (and still is, I think, the only degree-granting school at which 100% of the students are on full scholarship).

 

My thoughts!

A great deal of this is to do with history. In the US the word 'school' is used as a general term for all higher education institutions (universities, colleges, etc). In the Uk we'd never use the term 'school' other than to refer to those educational institutions that teach children from age 4-18 years. The excedption would be The School of Education, School of Engineering or the School of Theology in a higher education institution (college or university!). At the same time other higher education instititutions may be calling their schools 'departments; or 'faculities'! You can't win! Interestingly enough, the colleges of higher education in the UK that are affiliated with universities and teach and award their local university's degrees have sought to call themselves 'university college'.

The Privy Council and Department for Education and Skills (this is basically the Ministry of Education in most other countries but in the UK it changes name, or so it appears, almost weekly, to fit in with the fads and fashions of central government and which ever theme it (government of the day) happens to be pushing at the time!) is now seeking to control the use of the title 'university college' and some institutions have been forced to drop the title.

There is a massive move among non-university higher education institutions to seek degree-awarding powers in their own right, something that would have been unheard of twenty years ago, and yet, even if granted they cannot use the title 'university'. The best example I can think of is Europe's oldest management college (dare I write 'school'?)-Henley Management College. It now has powers to grant its own MBA degrees but is still waiting (3/4 years on) to be given powers to grant research and doctoral degrees. It continues to award successful candidates the Brunel University PhD or DBA.

 

Re: Re: Colleges vs. Universities

C'mon Bruce. You know that those blue-blooded triple eagles would never settle for Newton University. It would have to be Chestnut Hill University at least.
Jack

 

An after thought

I'm not an Oxbridge graduate but to those who have degrees from Oxford and Cambridge it matters more as to which college they attended than the fact that they have a degree from Oxford or Cambridge. If you were an undergraduate at, say, Balliol, Merton, Magdalene or Christ Church (which, by the way never refers to itself as Christ Church College!) this would matter more than had you attended one of the 'younger/newer' colleges! Also at these places no one is ever called a 'student' - they are 'undergraduates'!

 

It's all about semantics...

telfax,

It is my understanding that in Europe, there is a difference between a college and a university. Apparently, colleges are lower than universities, in the academic scheme of things. Colleges tend to be oriented more towards occupational trades (e.g. nursing) while universities tend to be oriented more towards academia (or liberal arts). Correct my mistakes please.

In the United States, I have seen a trend to change the name of many schools from “college” to “university” for no other reason than status. Old timers graduated from the ”State College” and they quickly point out the fact that the name has now changed to the ”State University.” In America, I think it has more to do with semantics and perception because we are being influenced by the European model and the American educational system is moving in that direction, to some political extent, possibly based upon historical reasons.

I’ve also seen some snotty attitudes when it comes to “community colleges.” Many people who are attending the state university will point their snooty noses down at those community college students. Hence, the term “university” rapidly gained popularity over the “community college.” Four-year colleges must now stipulate that they are not a community college (almost defensively) and that they offer four-year degrees.

The whole mess is rapidly evolving into __________: Your guess is as good as mine! But something is happening! (For example, we no longer have any remaining "State Colleges" in the United States. They have all changed to the new title of "State University.").

Yes, something is happening...

 

When it comes to unusual higher education names, I like the Athenaeum of Ohio.

 

Re: It's all about semantics...

Wow! I’m sure this news will come as quite a shock to:

• Bridgewater State College
  The Evergreen State College
  Peru State College
  Coppin State College
  West Liberty State College
  Plymouth State College
  Keene State College
  Glenville State College
  Fitchburg State College
  West Virginia State College
  Bluefield State College
  Mesa State College
  Lewis-Clark State College
  Westfield State College
  Utah Valley State College
  Missouri Western State College

…among many others, including perennial distance education favorites:

• Thomas Edison State College
  SUNY Empire State College
  Charter Oak State College

Disclaimer:
I just hastily copied the entire page listings from Google without checking out each one. As degree mills are often fond of using words like “state” in their name, I hope I didn’t net any in the bunch.

 

Are those schools state run and taxpayer supported?

 

Although I can't vouch for all of them (see disclaimer), I believe that in most cases, yes.

 

Of those listed, Bridgewater, Fitchburg and Westfield are a part of the Massachusetts higher education system. All three are state operated and supported by the taxpayer. BTW, there are at least a couple of others (Worcester and Framingham) that have the same appelation.
Jack

 

Re: Re: Re: Colleges vs. Universities

Touche


Bruce

 

Let's not forget Salem State College, Massachusetts College of Art (located at the old Boston State College campus), Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (formerly North Adams State College), and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

As a side note, some state colleges here in MA recently tried to get approval to confer doctoral degrees, but the idea was shot down by the Board of Higher Education. There is one state college (Bridgewater?) that offers an Ed.D. program in conjunction with UMass-Dartmouth.


Bruce

 

Well, I stand corrected: There still remain a few schools with the title "State College."