The British magazine, The Economist, probably the leading globally informed publication of this type,
in its September 8, 2005 issue, stated that U.S. higher education is “the best in the world.” Although
not a “system” and not managed by a central ministry, it is clearly an identifiable enterprise. And its
outstanding stature is attributed to its not being organized under the authority of a central government.
What holds it together? In part, it is participation by thousands of diverse collegiate institutions and
their skilled faculties in the self-regulatory process of accreditation that has developed in the past
century. As society needed new, diverse institutions, higher education changed and adapted. Without
the police powers of government, and primarily voluntary in nature, it has worked to improve and
expand programs and degree offerings. Core values of a democratic society have been maintained, along
with autonomy of diverse institutions responding to their varying missions.