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A Proposed Typology of Regional Public Universities

Author

Listed:
  • Cecilia M. Orphan

    (University of Denver)

  • Mac Wetherbee

    (University of Denver)

  • Becket C. Duncan

    (University of Denver)

Abstract

Regional Public Universities (RPUs) advance public good missions to foster postsecondary access, student-centeredness, and regional wellbeing. Despite the important contributions that RPUs make to their regions and students, scholars and the media often view the sector as amorphous and undistinguished, or they define RPUs by what they are not (e.g., elite, selective, community colleges, etc.). This sequential mixed methods research study grounded in organizational ecology theory and involving content analysis and cluster analysis proposes a typology of RPUs. Specifically, five RPU types are proposed: accessible, midsized master’s-degree granting RPUs; regionally focused Historically Black Colleges and Universities; rural-serving and CUNY RPUs; large, urban regional-serving RPUs; and Puerto Rican Hispanic-serving RPUs. This study significantly advances conceptual understanding about RPUs by disrupting deficit-based understandings about the sector being shapeless and amorphous by showing that the sector contains distinct institutional types that represent unique approaches to fulfilling the RPU public good mission. This typology is also among the first to document the institutional diversity of RPUs.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia M. Orphan & Mac Wetherbee & Becket C. Duncan, 2024. "A Proposed Typology of Regional Public Universities," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(6), pages 1208-1242, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:65:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s11162-024-09782-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-024-09782-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christopher C. Morphew & Matthew Hartley, 2006. "Mission Statements: A Thematic Analysis of Rhetoric across Institutional Type," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(3), pages 456-471, May.
    2. Anne-Marie Núñez & Gloria Crisp & Diane Elizondo, 2016. "Mapping Hispanic-Serving Institutions: A Typology of Institutional Diversity," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 87(1), pages 55-83, January.
    3. Cecilia M. Orphan & Graham N. S. Miller, 2020. "The Company Regional Comprehensive Universities Desire to Keep: Choosing Institutional Membership Associations," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 91(2), pages 300-325, February.
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