Higher Education in the American West: Regional History and State Contexts is the first comprehensive regional history of American higher education. It offers new historical research on how societal forces and state actions brought about the region's one thousand two hundred institutions of higher learning in 15 western states.

David M. Wrobel, University of Oklahoma, USAArthur M. Cohen, University of California at Los Angeles, USAJason E. Lane, State University of New York Albany, USAFrancis J. Kerins, Carroll College, USAWilliam E. "Bud" Davis, retired, USADavid A. Tandberg, Florida State University, USAPatrick M. Callan, The Higher Education Policy Institute, USA

Editors' Preface Introduction; Lester F. Goodchild, Richard W. Jonsen, Patty Limerick, and David A. Longanecker PART I: REGIONAL HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE VIEWS 1. Western College Expansion: Churches and Evangelization, States and Boosterism, 1818-1945; Lester F. Goodchild and David M. Wrobel 2. The Evolution of Institutions in the Westward Expansion; Arthur M. Cohen 3. Forty-Five Years in the Academic Saddle: The American West, Higher Education, and the Invitation to Innovation; Patty Limerick PART II: STATE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES AND FEDERAL INFLUENCES, 1945-2013 4. Middle Border Region: Higher Education in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming; Jason E. Lane and Francis J. Kerins, Sr. 5. History of Higher Education in the Southwest since World War II: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah; William E. 'Bud' Davis 6. Higher Education in the Pacific West: Developments in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska; William E. 'Bud' Davis, Lester F. Goodchild, and David A. Tandberg 7. Higher Education in California: Rise and Fall; Patrick M. Callan 8. The Federal Government and Western Higher Education; David A. Longanecker PART III: A CONCLUDING COMMENTARY 9. Afterword - Understanding the First Regional History of American Higher Education: The Spirit of Innovation; Lester F. Goodchild