Policy Change in College Admissions: An Application of Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and Policy Design Theory

• In Event: Policy Learning and Change in the United States

Abstract

In this paper I use two established policy process theories – policy design theory and punctuated equilibrium theory – to explore what causes policy change in college admissions. While research is well established on the history of college access in the United States, few studies have examined the forces that cause change in college admissions policy. Using a comparative case study of three public flagship universities, I code and analyze the admissions policies at these institutions as published in course catalogs from the 1850s until 2010. I observe that policies appear to shift incrementally until external shocks, such as the High School Movement or World War II, yield significant policy change. These findings align with punctuated equilibrium theory.

Authors

• Grant Blume, University of Washington

• Tory Brundage, University of Washington