Journal article
By Lack of Reciprocity: Positioning Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Organizational Field of Higher Education
The Journal of higher education (Columbus), Vol.92(2), pp.194-226
02/23/2021
DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2020.1803026
Abstract
This study examines social closure processes in the organizational field of higher education and their implications with respect to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Using institutional comparison-group data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we analyze how organizational identity claims and non-reciprocation reveal salient between-group boundaries among different types of four-year colleges and universities. Compared to other organizational traits that could potentially give rise to social boundaries in this organizational field, findings indicate that the social divide between HWIs and HBCUs is particularly sharp. Importantly, our analyses show that this divide is the result of HWIs excluding HBCUs through non-reciprocity, and not the result of HBCUs self-segregating. The results thus suggest that social closure is one mechanism through which HWIs protect their racially privileged status. Overall, the pattern of non-reciprocity documented in this study suggests that HWIs continue to interpret HBCUs as lesser institutions of higher education, despite their significant historical and contemporary role in American higher education.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- By Lack of Reciprocity: Positioning Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Organizational Field of Higher Education
- Creators
- Graham N. S. Miller - Brandeis UniversityFreda B. Lynn - University of IowaLaila I. McCloud - Western Illinois University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of higher education (Columbus), Vol.92(2), pp.194-226
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/00221546.2020.1803026
- ISSN
- 0022-1546
- eISSN
- 1538-4640
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/23/2021
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology
- Record Identifier
- 9984305974702771
Metrics
2 Record Views