Archaeology and the Academy: Why is Such Research Important?In recent years, historical archaeologists have acknowledged the potential for examining the material culture of the institutions at which they work. Institutions of higher education have been an integral part of the American and colonial fabric since Harvard was established in 1636, and they have only increased their level of cultural influence in modern society. Archaeology can shed light on how these institutions function, how their development has changed over time, and how they impact and are impacted by larger elements of society. The Michigan State University Campus Archaeology Program is a broadly based approach to the universityʼs material record, seeking to develop a better understanding of how Land Grant institutions changed over time, and how this has affected culture at large. This program serves as an example of a successful approach to investigating the archaeology of higher education.

What types of questions can be asked?• What is the relationship of higher education to the broader cultural

context, and how does that relationship change over time, and vice versa?

• How are goals and/or the intent of the university mission expressed in the material record?

• How do instituions change while respecting their social & cultural traditions?

• How does the large percentage of transients at a university impact the material record of the university and its surrounding community?

What are some challenges?• Universities and colleges change rapidly and frequently,

endangering archaeological sites.• Sites are often small and span many decades or centuries.• University history is often considered public relations and not

scholarship.• It is often difficult to convince administration of a programʼs high

value, but low cost & resource requirements.

How do you do this type of archaeology?• Establish working relationship with higher

administration and facilities management.• Develop and present program in terms and

language that address various officesʼ needs and strategies.

• Develop an overall research strategy that will encompass work across campus, as well as work on different scales.

• Engage with other academic units, present papers and posters at academic conferences, publish results of work, & engage in public relations in terms of research importance & information.

• Engage undergraduate and graduate students in implementation of research, projects, teaching, and engagement.

• Develop a plan to address and regularly engage various stakeholders.

• Visit MSU Campus Archaeology Program website for details of how we have implemented these items(campusarch.msu.edu)

Who are the stakeholders?Stakeholders in the archaeology of higher education include more groups than one might initially expect: university students, faculty, staff (including facilities staff), administrators, alumni, and other archaeologists, as well as local communities and citizens.

Terry P. Brock and Lynne G. Goldstein, Michigan State University