Milestone Project

  • Founding of the University of Bologna
    1088

    Founding of the University of Bologna

    The first university created and formed as a guild of students.
  • Founding of the University of Paris
    1150

    Founding of the University of Paris

    Became a leading center for theology and liberal arts. Served as a model for later universities.
  • Founding of the University of Oxford
    1167

    Founding of the University of Oxford

    After King Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris, it forced many scholars to return to England and made Oxford a major center of learning.
  • Founding of the University of Cambridge
    1209

    Founding of the University of Cambridge

    After major conflict in Oxford, many masters and students migrated to Cambridge where it adopted a lot of Oxford's structures.
  • Parens Scientiarum
    1231

    Parens Scientiarum

    The papal bull by Pope Gregory IX gave the University of Paris independence. This became the model for universities.
  • The Foundation of Harvard

    The Foundation of Harvard

    Harvard was the first higher education institution in the colonies. It helped to establish the higher education system for future America.
  • Massachusetts Law on Education

    Massachusetts Law on Education

    The General Court of Massachusetts passed a law requiring parents and masters to ensure children could read and understand religious principles.
  • The Foundation of the College of Philadelphia

    The Foundation of the College of Philadelphia

    Benjamin Franklin promoted the College of Philadelphia to move away from traditional education to prepare students for life in other areas of the community. It emphasized modern languages and sciences.
  • The Foundation of the College of Rhode Island

    The Foundation of the College of Rhode Island

    The College of Rhode Island was notable for its religious tolerance. It helped to establish religious tolerance in the higher education system throughout the colonies.
  • The American Revolution

    The American Revolution

    The war caused many colleges to temporarily close. Many students and faculty joined in the war.
  • The Founding of North Carolina

    The Founding of North Carolina

    The first public university in the U.S. and marked the beginning of state funded higher education.
  • The Founding of West Point

    The Founding of West Point

    Established by Thomas Jefferson, created to train officers for the U.S. army.
  • The Yale Report of 1828

    The Yale Report of 1828

    A document created by the Yale faculty defending classical curriculum vs a modern curriculum.
  • The Founding of Cheyney University

    The Founding of Cheyney University

    Cheyney became the first institution of higher education for American Americans, particularly for teacher education.
  • The Morrill Act

    The Morrill Act

    Provided federal land to states to establish colleges.
  • Founding of John Hopkins University

    Founding of John Hopkins University

    This was the beginning of the modern research university, the German model of graduate study, research, academic freedom and the Ph.D. as a standard for faculty.
  • Second Morrill Act

    Second Morrill Act

    Required states with segregated school systems to either open their land grant colleges to black students or create separate institutions for them.
  • Creation of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB)

    Creation of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB)

    Established to create uniform entrance exams to standardize admissions and the growing competition among universities.
  • Founding of the Association of American Universities (AAU)

    Founding of the Association of American Universities (AAU)

    Formed by 14 leading research institutions to standardize graduate education.
  • Founding of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

    Founding of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

    Created to defend academic freedom and establish standards for tenure and faculty governance.
  • Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill)

    Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill)

    Opened college access to veterans, providing them with benefits to help them return to society including help with tuition payments, living stipends and low interest home loans.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education

    Ended legal segregation and challenged racial barriers within higher education.
  • Affirmative Action

    Affirmative Action

    Required government contractors to take proactive steps to ensure equal employment opportunity, influencing college hiring and admissions policies.
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964

    The Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Prohibited discrimination in education, employment and federally funded programs.
  • The Higher Education Act of 1965

    The Higher Education Act of 1965

    Expanded federal student aid and tied funding to equity and desegregation.
  • 1.	Title IX

    1. Title IX

    Law the prohibited sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funding.
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

    Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

    Gave students the right to access their educational records and limited who institutions could share information with.
  • Middle-Income Student Assistance Act (MISAA)

    Middle-Income Student Assistance Act (MISAA)

    Expanded financial aid eligibility to middle-income students.
  • Creation of the U.S. Department of Education

    Creation of the U.S. Department of Education

    This took over federal oversight, student aid programs and accountability in higher education.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Americans with Disabilities Act

    Required colleges and universities to provide reasonable accommodations and ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.