Access: The General College Magazine

Abstract

The current attempt to make the University one of the top three publicly funded research institutions in the world would come at a cost to the citizens of Minnesota. Of necessity we will have to recast the notion of the “land-grant university” to fit with contemporary politics and to limit access in order to foster an illusion of excellence and exclusivity. I differ with the current administration in principle over the issue of access. The inscription above Northrop Auditorium refers to all youth—not differentiated by social class origins, race or ethnicity, gender or sexual preference. Seventy-three years ago University President Lotus Coffman proposed the establishment of a program that would increase access and ease the transition of students into the rigors of academic life. Since then, the General College has fulfilled this mission and earned the reputation of being the nation’s premier developmental education program.