K. Patricia Cross
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Patricia Cross (born 1926) is a scholar of educational research. Through her career, she has explored adult education
and higher learning, discussing methodology and pedagogy in terms of remediation and advancement in the university system.
in 1948. She then earned an M.A. in psychology and a PhD in social psychology, both from the University of Illinois
in 1951 and 1958 respectively. Cross was awarded with several honorary doctorate degrees throughout her academic career. Before pursuing her education in psychology, she taught math at Harvard Community High School in Harvard, Illinois
. Upon completing her PhD, Cross began a career heavy in both administrative and academic duties. From 1959 to 1964, she was a dean of students at Cornell University
; in 1964 she became the director of College and University Programs Educational Testing Service at Princeton, New Jersey; in 1966 she began working for the University of California, Berkeley
both as a research educator for the Center for Research and Development of Higher Education and as a research scientist and psychologist for Educational Testing Service
. In 1980, she started teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
as a professor of education. By 1988, she had returned to Berkeley to teach as a professor of higher education, until her retirement in 1995. She maintains emeritus status at UC Berkeley.
, Cross finds different reasons for these students’ underachievement. She notes that much of the discrepancies in the students’ incoming test scores lies in lack of effort and motivation. Pointing out that some of these “remedial” students come from privileged backgrounds, she argues that the problem cannot be a mere matter of the school system failing to reach the underprivileged. While Cross upholds the belief that everyone should have access to higher education, she counters that remedial programs used as an effort to “catch up” the students falling behind is not the answer. Instead, she argues that institutions should point students toward excellence in areas perhaps alternative to the traditional academic curriculum of the university setting, such as vocational or semiprofessional training.
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Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
and higher learning, discussing methodology and pedagogy in terms of remediation and advancement in the university system.
Education and career
Cross earned her B.S. in mathematics from Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in 1948. She then earned an M.A. in psychology and a PhD in social psychology, both from the University of Illinois
University of Illinois system
The University of Illinois is a system of public universities in Illinois consisting of three campuses: Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. Across its three campuses, the University of Illinois enrolls about 70,000 students. It had an operating budget of $4.17 billion in 2007.-System:The...
in 1951 and 1958 respectively. Cross was awarded with several honorary doctorate degrees throughout her academic career. Before pursuing her education in psychology, she taught math at Harvard Community High School in Harvard, Illinois
Harvard, Illinois
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois, approximately south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census...
. Upon completing her PhD, Cross began a career heavy in both administrative and academic duties. From 1959 to 1964, she was a dean of students at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
; in 1964 she became the director of College and University Programs Educational Testing Service at Princeton, New Jersey; in 1966 she began working for the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
both as a research educator for the Center for Research and Development of Higher Education and as a research scientist and psychologist for Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service , founded in 1947, is the world's largest private nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization...
. In 1980, she started teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University, and is one of the top schools of education in the United States. It was founded in 1920, the same year it invented the Ed.D...
as a professor of education. By 1988, she had returned to Berkeley to teach as a professor of higher education, until her retirement in 1995. She maintains emeritus status at UC Berkeley.
Research
Approaching educational research from the vantage of a mathematician and social scientist, Cross has come to conclusions about student ability and experience perhaps different than those of some of her contemporaries. Though as caring for the remedial and new college student as colleagues such as Mina ShuaghnessyMina P. Shaughnessy
Mina P. Shaughnessy , born in the mining town of Lead, South Dakota, was a teacher and innovator in the field of basic writing at the City University of New York .- Early life :...
, Cross finds different reasons for these students’ underachievement. She notes that much of the discrepancies in the students’ incoming test scores lies in lack of effort and motivation. Pointing out that some of these “remedial” students come from privileged backgrounds, she argues that the problem cannot be a mere matter of the school system failing to reach the underprivileged. While Cross upholds the belief that everyone should have access to higher education, she counters that remedial programs used as an effort to “catch up” the students falling behind is not the answer. Instead, she argues that institutions should point students toward excellence in areas perhaps alternative to the traditional academic curriculum of the university setting, such as vocational or semiprofessional training.
K. Patricia Cross Award
Since 1996, Cross has sponsored the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, recognizing graduate students demonstrating promise as future leaders in higher education. The award is currently administered by the Association of American Colleges and UniversitiesAssociation of American Colleges and Universities
The Association of American Colleges and Universities is a national association that is committed to improving undergraduate education and advancing liberal education as the preferred philosophy of education for all students...
.