Generational Shockwaves and the Implications for Higher Education (review)

Generational Shockwaves and the Implications for Higher Education is part of the TIAA-CREF Institute Series and contains the proceedings of a conference by the same name held in November 2007. The chapters in this volume include a variety of elements such as reviews of sessions by an observer, original manuscripts by conference session leaders, and reports of audience participation. The contributors are faculty, administrators, and researchers in higher education who have researched the effects of generational differences on higher education. This volume is unique in that it reviews research, theories, and best practices in working with students and faculty from different generations.

In Chapter 1, Neil Howe, William Strauss, and Reena Nadler examine generations in the United States starting with the G.I. Generation (born 1901–1924) and ending with the Millennial Generation (born since 1982). For readers unfamiliar with Howe and Strauss’s work, this chapter is a great primer on their theories of generational differences. They describe the typical “peer personality” of each generation—cautioning, however, that stereotyping within a generation misses a great deal of richness and extensive intragenerational variability.

As a follow-up in Chapter 2, Bruce Johnstone asks whether using generational labels is helpful and emphasizes that, no matter what their generation, we must know our students individually to respond appropriately to their needs.

Chapter 3 reviews the results of a panel of college presidents and administrators who discussed how they have accommodated Generation X faculty. From data presented in this chapter and throughout the book, it is clear that Generation X faculty have needs for work/life balance that contrast starkly with the needs and views of the Boomer Generation (their older faculty and administration colleagues). While the Boomer Generation focused on getting ahead in work to the exclusion of family life, Generation X faculty are interested in spending more time with family and feel that they don’t need to be “around all the time” to be productive. The presidents and administrators on the panel discussed ways in which their respective universities have responded to these needs.

Cathy Trower also discusses the characteristics of Generation X faculty in Chapter 4 and how those characteristics relate to the faculty environment. Of particular interest was her idea that Generation X faculty are much more concerned about quality when evaluating academic accomplishments. For example, Generation X faculty focus on the quality of their research versus how many papers they have published as a measure of success. Additionally, Generation X faculty, unlike their older colleagues, are interested in a flexible workplace that does not require them to keep regular 9-to-5 office hours.

Chapter 5 reported a panel discussion delineating the heterogeneous characteristics of Millennials and how institutions can address them. In Chapter 6, Kenneth Redd discussed significant changes in college enrollment over the last 30 years: More qualified students are applying than ever before, college costs have increased 40% in inflation-adjusted prices over the last decade while the inflation-adjusted incomes of those who attend college have risen only 7% in the last 15 years, and significant gaps continue in attendance between Whites and those from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Chapter 7 is a literature review of historical reasons that people have chosen faculty careers. In the last 50 years, research on academic careers has shown that people who become professors exhibit special academic interests early on, find one position and stay there, and have only their academic career. Author Martin Finkelstein, however, cited more recent research that shows a divergence from this profile on the part of newer faculty. For instance, newer professors are more likely to move around, seeking opportunities at more prestigious institutions.

Martin Finklestein reviewed interesting research by Mason and Goulden (2002, 2004) on Generation X, who found that pretenure parenthood exacted a “price” from women but not from men. The past 35 years have seen a substantial increase in female, minority, and international...