Generous Thinking

In her book Generous Thinking, Kathleen Fitzpatrick calls for transforming the culture of higher education from one of competition to one of community. And that sense of community is to extend beyond the campus. Fitzpatrick decries how education has come to be considered a private responsibility rather than a public good. Higher education institutions have contributed to this change in perspective by isolating themselves from the larger community. Fitzpatrick calls for universities to join in solidarity with the wider public. This will require, says Fitzpatrick, generous thinking—listening to one another, being open to learning as much as teaching, and applying knowledge for the public good. Fitzpatrick admits that what she proposes will not be easily achieved. Nonetheless, it is critical, she argues, to the future of higher education and society that universities reach beyond their borders to lead the necessary transformation of how we perceive and deliver education. Fitzpatrick writes for university faculty and administrators. But this volume will also be of interest to anyone concerned about the role of higher education in American society.