Higher Education in the United States of America

A. Pre-Reading Activities

Task I. Study the following vocabulary notes to avoid difficulties of understanding:

American College Test – Тест американского колледжа

ascertain (v) – выяснять, устанавливать

assign (v) – назначать

Associate’s degree – степень младшего специалиста (аналог белорусского диплома о среднем специальном образовании)

authentic (adj) – истинный, настоящий, подлинный

average income – средний доход

commitment (n) – стремление, готовность

community college – местный (общинный) колледж

complain (v) – жаловаться, выражать недовольство

comprise (v) – содержать, включать

counterpart (n) – аналог

distinction (n) – отличие, различие

dormitory (n) – студенческое общежитие

enrol (v) – становиться членом, вступать

extracurricular activities – внеаудиторная деятельность

fraternity (n) – студенческая организация (братство)

grade point average – средний балл

graduate studies – обучение в аспирантуре

harsh (adj) – жесткий, суровый

high school – средняя школа

in conjunction with – в сочетании с, совместно с

index (n) – показатель, признак

insurance (n) – страхование

interest (n) – проценты

Ivy League – Лига плюща

liberal arts – гуманитарные науки

major (n) – специализация

make up – возмещать, компенсировать

peculiar (adj) – специфический, особенный

promotion (n) – продвижение, повышение (по службе)

pursuit (n) – стремление, поиски

ratio (n) – соотношение

reject (v) – отвергать, отклонять, отказывать

rough (adj) – примерный, приблизительный

scholarship (n) – стипендия

Scholastic Aptitude Test – экзамен на выявление академических способностей (способностей к обучению)

score – сумма баллов

service academy – военное училище

service commitment – прохождение военной службы

sorority (n) – женское студенческое общество

staff college – академия генерального штаба

stipend (n) – жалованье, регулярное денежное содержание

subsequent (adj) – последующий, следующий

tax (n) – налог

threshold (n) – граница, предел

troublesome (adj) – трудный, причиняющий беспокойство

tuition (n) – обучение; плата за обучение

tuition fee – плата за обучение

undergraduate studies – обучение в высшем учебном заведении

vocational (adj) – профессиональный

Task II. Guess the meaning of these words and word combinations checking your guesses as you read the text:

option grant a degree funding self-governing subject area open door policy teaching block teaching staff competitive index wait-listed English proficiency living expenses needy academic adviser

B. Reading and Comprehension Activities

Task III. Go through the text and then check your comprehension:

Since advances in technology and great interrelation of the world in political and economic areas of life have set harsh standards for professionals in various spheres, the majority of Americans nowadays consider higher education as their top priority. The United States has a highly decentralized system of education that gives students a wide range of educational options, from two-year community colleges and technical training institutions to four-year colleges and universities. All in all, in the USA there are about 4000 colleges and universities granting academic degrees.

While the US Department of Education provides support and funding for higher education, it does not act as a central authority. Except for the United States service academies and staff colleges, the federal government does not directly regulate universities, although it can give federal grants to them. US colleges and universities are mostly self-governing and have significant independence and freedom.

The American college is an institution which has no counterpart in Europe. A college is an undergraduate institution requiring a secondary school certificate for admission and granting a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree after four years of study. College prepares the student either for graduate studies at the university or for a job immediately after graduation. It may or may not be a part of a university. Each college has a special subject area. There may be a College of Liberal Arts, a College of Education, a College of Business and so on.

Some students choose to attend a two-year community college that may offer a number of vocational programs in hundreds of fields from Business Administration and Computer Programming to Nursing, Fashion Design, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or Advertising Art. Community colleges meet the educational and vocational needs of local communities. Usually they are run by a state government and maintain an ‘open door policy’ with low tuition costs and few entrance requirements. Students who complete the course get the Associate’s degree and then may enter many professions needed in the local community. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university. Technical institutes or colleges provide school-leavers with two- or three-year courses in practical subjects (design, business, computer programming, accounting, etc.).

The university in the United States is a research-oriented institution which provides both undergraduate and graduate education. The university is comprised of a number of colleges, a professional school attended primarily by those who plan to be practitioners instead of scholars, and a graduate school offering postgraduate programs and leading to a Master’s and Doctor’s degree. American universities are usually built as a separate complex, called ‘campus’, with teaching blocks, libraries, dormito­ries, and many other facilities grouped together on one site, often on the outskirts of the city. The university may get money from the state government if it is a public one, from private sources if it is private, or it may be funded by a religious group.

There is no clear distinction in terms of quality of education offered between the institutions. However, this is not to say that all institutions enjoy equal prestige. Universities and colleges are graded on such criteria as quality of teaching staff and research facilities, amount of funding available for libraries and special programs, the competence and number of applicants for admission. The status of a particular university is also assessed by considering the ratio between the number of its graduates and their subsequent employment in their professional fields, their average incomes and perspectives for promotion. Research conducted by a university is a factor contributing to its prestige as well. The universities with the highest reputation are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale Universities, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania. Together they compose the Ivy League – a group of old and highly-respected universities that have similar academic and social prestige in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in Britain. All these colleges are very competitive with 4-10 applicants to a place and only a small percentage of students who apply gain admission. The most fa­mous professors teach at them and the academic standards are very high.

A unique feature of higher education in the United States is the device known as accreditation. Nationally recognized accrediting agencies establish educational criteria to evaluate institutions in terms of their own objectives and to ascertain whether programs of educational quality are being maintained. The accreditation agencies rate universities and colleges on academic quality – the quality of their libraries, the publishing records of their faculty, the degrees which their faculty hold, etc. Accreditation provides institutions with continued stimulus for improvement and ensures that accredited status may serve as an authentic index of educational quality.

At the same time many Americans are not satisfied with the condition of higher education in their country. The high tuition fees make it difficult for low-paid American families to send their children to university. Though much is spent by the state on education, American universities complain that these funds are becoming smaller with every year. The equipment which is used at the universities for research is not modern enough, and the universities do not have the money to install new equipment. Under such conditions tuition fees are growing and many talented young people cannot receive higher education.

Out of the more than three million students who graduate from high school each year, about one million go on for higher education. A college at a leading university might receive applications from two per cent of these high school graduates, and then accept only one out of every ten who apply. Simply by being admitted into one of the most respected universities in the United States, a high school graduate achieves a degree of suc­cess.

There is no limit to the number of colleges or universities to which a student may apply. With a few exceptions, most educational establishments maintain the policy that students are to be admitted to (or rejected from) the entire college, not to a particular department. Some students, rather than being rejected, are ‘wait-listed’ for a particular college and may be admitted if another student who was admitted decides not to attend it.

Each college or university in the USA has its own requirements for admission that usually involve grades earned in high school courses, the students’ grade point average and standardized test scores such as the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both tests measure verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. Additionally, certain colleges require the so called Achievement Test that measures knowledge of a particular subject and the ability to apply that knowledge. Foreign applicants have to take a TOEFL test of English proficiency. Most colleges also consider more subjective factors such as a commitment to extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and an interview. While numerical factors rarely ever are absolute required values, each college usually has a rough threshold below which admission is unlikely.

If an applicant has successfully enrolled at the university, the next troublesome issue he or she will have to resolve will be a financial one. Tuition is charged at almost all American universities, except the five federally-sponsored service academies in which students attend free and with a stipend in exchange for a service commitment in the US armed forces after graduation. Generally, private universities charge much higher tuition than public institutions, which rely on state funds to make up the difference. Because each state supports its own university system with state taxes, most public universities charge much higher rates for out-of-state students. Annual undergraduate tuition varies widely from state to state. At most public universities it is $5,000 to $20,000 per year. In private colleges and universities it is about $30,000 per year. These prices do not include living expenses or additional fees that schools add on such as ‘activities fees’ or health insurance. Every young person who enters a higher educational institution can get financial assistance. If a student borrows money from special funds (a loan), they should repay it with interest after they finish their education. Needy students are awarded grants which they do not have to repay. Scholarships are given when a student is doing exceptionally well at school. Though each university offers a number of scholarships many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.

The academic year in American colleges and universities is usually of two semesters or nine months duration. The methods of instruction are lectures, dis­cussions and work in laboratory. Students are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. A freshman is a first-year student, a sophomore – a second-year student, a junior – a third-year student, and a senior – a fourth-year student. All students who have graduated from the senior class and who continue studies at a university are called advanced or graduate students. A peculiar feature of American college or university life is numerous students’ unions, fraternities and sororities. A great deal of cultural and recreational life at a university is created by different kinds of students’ clubs.

Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate studies, which consist of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in the primary academic area of interest known as a major. As soon as a student chooses his or her major field of study, there will be a specific number and type of courses they must take to earn a degree for that particular major. In addition to the major and minor courses students can select other subjects according to their professional interests. Every student is assigned an ‘academic adviser’ who helps with academic planning, course selection, requirements for the degree and answers questions on class attendance, disciplinary matters, problems that may have an impact on academic work. There are no final examinations and students receive a degree if they have collected enough credits in a particular subject.

Graduate studies, conducted after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, lead to a more advanced degree such as a Master’s degree. After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a Master’s degree, students may earn a Doctor’s degree. Entrance into graduate programs usually depends upon a student’s undergraduate academic performance or professional experience as well as their score on a standardized entrance exam like the Graduate Record Examination, the Medical College Admissions Test, or the Law School Admissions Test.

The 2006 American Community Survey carried out by the United States Census Bureau found that 19.5% of the population had attended college but had no degree, 7.4% held an Associate’s degree, 17.1% held a Bachelor’s degree, and 9.9% held a graduate or professional degree. Only 8.9% of students ever receive postgraduate degrees, and most, after obtaining their Bachelor’s degree, proceed directly into the workforce.

Strong research and funding have helped to make American colleges and universities among the world’s most prestigious, which is particularly attractive to international students, professors and researchers in the pursuit of academic excellence.

Task IV. Find the words in the text with similar meanings to these:

1. faculty (1)

2. to perform (2)

3. professional (1)

4. to compensate (2)

5. mark (1)

6. to specify (2)

7. payment for instruction (1)

8. posterior (1)

9. to support (1)

10. occupation (1)

Task V. Form word partnerships by matching verbs to nouns. Make up your own sentences with them:

1. conduct	a. the course
2. set	b. as a top priority
3. engage	c. research
4. complete	d. educational criteria
5. establish	e. an ‘open door policy’
6. grant	f. equal prestige
7. maintain	g. harsh standards
8. enjoy	h. a rough threshold
9. consider	i. in undergraduate studies
10. have	j. an academic degree

Task VI. Read the text and complete the gaps with the appropriate words and word combinations from the box below:

accepted authorities award

comparable courses curriculums

determine establish faculty members

framework institutions obtains

quality assurance required skills

In the first American effort of its kind, universities and colleges in Indiana, Minnesota and Utah are starting pilot projects to make sure that degree programs in their states reflect a consensus about what specific knowledge and (1) …should be taught.

Instead of defining degrees by the (2) …taken or the credits earned, the three states will (3) …what students must learn. In the project, Indiana will draft learning standards for education, history and chemistry degrees; Utah for history and physics; and Minnesota for graphic design and chemistry. In each state, the project includes education officials, (4) …and students from a wide variety of (5) ….

The project is based on the principles of the decade-long Bologna Process, named for the Italian city where European higher-education (6) …agreed to seek an alliance in which thousands of institutions of higher education in dozens of countries would (7) …degrees based on (8) …standards.

The goal is to give universities, students and employers in a global economy enough (9) …and comparability that wherever a student (10) …a degree, it would stand for the same thing and be widely (11) ….

While the project will design a (12) …, and reference points, for different degrees, it will not standardize (13) …. Each university would still (14) … for itself how best to teach the (15) …skills.

The New York Times, April 8, 2009

Task VII. Give extensive arguments to prove or disprove these statements:

1. Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of five years of study at an institution of higher learning.

2. American colleges and universities are mostly self-governing and have significant independence and freedom.

3. ACT and SAT are used to predict the facility with which an individual will progress in learning school-level academic subjects.

4. Community college can be a starting point to earn a Bachelor’s degree from a US university.

5. Colleges and universities differ in their competitiveness and reputation; generally, the most prestigious ones are public, rather than private.

6. All higher educational establishments in the United States charge fees.

7. Public universities often have much higher tuition payment than private ones.

8. Those who study at a university or four-year college are known as graduates, and those who have received a degree after four years of study are called postgraduates.

9. Students often use scholarships, student loans, or grants, rather than paying all tuition out-of-pocket.

10. American universities have developed independent accreditation organisations to vouch for the quality of the degrees they offer.

Task VIII. Read the text more carefully and complete the suggested statements:

1. High school graduates may …

2. The American college is an institution which …

3. … is financed by the local authorities and is intended for local needs.

4. … occupy a position in American university life rather like Oxbridge in Britain.

5. It is not easy to enter a college or university in the US because …

6. Applicants are usually chosen on the basis of …

7. The financial aid to a student may be given in the form of …

8. After completing four years of study the graduates …

9. … is awarded for successful completion of research work carried out at the university graduate school.

10. Although the government spends much on education …

Task IX. Check your understanding of the detail by answering these questions:

1. What are the main categories of higher educational institutions in the USA? Specify the difference between them.

2. What factors contribute to the prestige of this or that higher educational establishment in the USA?

3. The American system of higher education is largely decentralized, isn’t it?

4. Do all the students have to pay for their education at the college or university? What are the sources of getting money to pay tuition fees?

5. Why do most students study at public institutions of higher education?

6. Imagine you are going to enter a university in the USA. What should you know about the terms of application?

7. What do you know about the classification of students in American colleges and universities?

8. What degree do American colleges and universities award after four years of study? What degrees do graduate schools grant?

9. What criteria do the accreditation agencies use to rate universities and colleges?

10. Why are many Americans not satisfied with the condition of higher education in their country?

Task X. Supply the missing prepositions and adverbs: