This volume investigates the historical and sociological implications of expanding access to higher education to a broader demographic. The authors, Gordon Roderick and Michael L. Stephens, utilize a collection of historical case studies and policy analyses to examine the tension between elitist academic traditions and the democratic push for universal educational opportunity. By contextualizing the development of various institutional models, the text argues that the expansion of higher education is inextricably linked to shifting economic demands and social expectations.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the Routledge Library Editions series, providing a comprehensive historical overview of educational reform. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for scholars interested in the evolution of modern university systems.