Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Education
Abstract
The studys purpose was to illuminate the ways university presidents describe the value of higherEducation. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on State of the University speeches given by presidents at six Midwest, public, Big Ten universities. Three questions guided this study. First, in their public speeches, which value of higherEducation did the presidents emphasize more—economic, social, public, or private? Second, which logic did presidents use in their speeches to legitimate their universities—social or industry? Third, what were the primary messages the presidents conveyed about the value of higherEducation? The studys results showed that the presidents spoke to the public/social value of higherEducation over and above the other purposes of higherEducation. They also used industry logic more often than social logic to legitimate their universities. They frequently spoke of the universities as actors in a competitive enterprise, an industry rather than a social institution. Grounded themes that emerged from the analysis included the presidents emphases on student success, the importance of land-grant missions, concern about the declining public good, understanding the need to shape the value narrative, and articulations of anti-industry logic. Five characteristics emerged as relevant to the study, including (a) institutional context, (b) institutional historic mission, (c) speech audience, (d) presidential tenure, and (e) presidential race/ethnicity. The study concluded with the finding that presidents are sending mixed messages about their institutions value by combining public/social value themes with descriptions of the universities as actors in a competitive enterprise. It is recommended that presidents and others of institutions limit their messages of competition with other universities, pay attention to the value messages that are communicated in other forms of media, and embrace a model of collaboration with other institutions.
Recommended Citation
Brandebury, Amy R., "Speaking To Value: A Content Analysis Of State Of The University Speeches" (2015). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1455.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1455