Temporal Transformation of Dead and Dying Colleges: From Funerals to Rising Phoenix

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Division J Section 6: Roundtable 4

Abstract

Higher education in the US is in a tumultuous era, with colleges and universities closing at an alarming rate. While much of the highly cited research relies on quantitative analysis, this ethnographic study explores the humanistic experience that these "dead or dying" universities leave on their communities. Through a road trip to 41 sites, I conducted interviews and observed former campuses, paying close attention to aspects of their urbanism. The analysis reveals a temporal life cycle: communities grapple with feelings akin to a family member's death, and physical spaces undergo a rebirth into new uses, such as affordable housing or K-12 schools. This temporal transformation is a recurring rhythm that will continue through the current trajectory of higher education.

Author

• Ryan M. Allen, Soka University of America