“…In recent years, Mayhew's claims appear just as relevant. There remains perpetual confusion on why higher education degree programs exist (Melendez, 2002), what their scholarship concerns (Brennan and Teichler, 2008;Terenzini, 1996;Tight, 2019Tight, , 2020, and what it means to educate students in higher education (Bitzer and Wilkinson, 2009;Card et al, 2016;Miller and Nelson, 1994;Weidman et al, 1984). Moreover, the purpose and academic legitimacy of higher education research has been sharply criticized (Layzell, 1990;Terenzini, 1996), spurring attempts to define its unique contribution (Brennan and Teichler, 2008;Cheng, 2009;Dressel and Mayhew, 1974;Teichler, 2014;Tight, 2004Tight, , 2014.…”