Widely acknowledged as one of the great sociologists of higher education, Burton R. Clark has made substantial contributions to virtually every area in the field, thereby defining its study for generations. This collection of essays makes available a lifetime of research, scholarship, and insight from a giant in higher education and reveals how his perspectives, concepts, and research methods evolved over half a century. The result is a compelling look at the career of one of the world’s leaders in higher education research.

The volume presents Clark's early research studies underpinning his theories of the "cooling-out" function and organizational saga. It includes his landmark 1973 essay "Development of the Sociology of Higher Education" and other work that reflects his line of inquiry into the American national system. Essays also follow Clark’s shift from organizational studies of American higher education to international comparative analysis of national systems of higher education. These selections reflect the interdisciplinary approach characterizing subsequent work. The book concludes with his most recent research on the important question of how modern universities evolve by developing the infrastructure and tools to bring about meaningful change.

At once a monumental achievement and testament to an extraordinary career, On Higher Education is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and practitioners of higher education.