The Silicon Valley region has been one of the most vibrant economic areas in the world for forty years. Its rise is typically attributed to its mix of entrepreneurs, business firms, business infrastructure, and elite research universities. However, standard accounts overlook broad-access colleges, which have generated human capital vital to the region’s ascent and durability.
To remedy this oversight we are designing a longitudinal study of the complete higher education ecology of Silicon Valley and the larger Bay Area region. This project will examine how, when, and why different types of colleges adapted to survive, serve, and often flourish within this remarkable regional economy. It will include a clearer specification of the relationship between the region’s colleges and its K12 feeder schools, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing educational leaders as Silicon Valley and the state of California enter their next epoch.