Using historical research, recent social science and public policy scholarship, and international comparisons, the authors investigate the widening chasm between equity and excellence in higher education. The authors, who are all from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, trace efforts to achieve educational equity and excellence from the American Revolution to the early Cold War and study the current situation at 19 colleges and universities. They propose changes at every level, from reform of the admissions process to addressing various pre-collegiate obstacles faced by disadvantaged students. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)