W. Norton Grubb

Norton Grubb
W. Norton Grubb
Former David Pierpont Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emeritus,
University of California, Berkeley

W. Norton Grubb was the David Pierpont Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emeritus, at the University of California, Berkeley. His research examined the role of education in labor markets, the effectiveness of high schools and community colleges, and how educational institutions can reinforce or reduce societal inequities. He authored 14 books and numerous articles on education policy and was instrumental in establishing the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley to train principals for urban schools. He also played a key role in shaping policies on career and technical education and was a frequent consultant for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). His work influenced state and national discussions on linking education and workforce development. Grubb received the University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence. Grubb earned his BA and PhD in economics from Harvard University.

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Access, quality & alignment in early childhood education
College access & postsecondary success
Continuous school improvement & support
Education finance
Educational governance & policy
Supporting students’ social-emotional, mental & physical health
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
W. Norton Grubb in the Media
: How to Reform Remedial Education
Publications by W. Norton Grubb
2012 WP Grubb
Developmental Students
Their Heterogeneity and Readiness
This paper examines basic skills education in California Community Colleges and the heterogeneity of students in developmental classrooms. Some students simply need to brush up on existing skills while others have learning disabilities or mental…
2012 WP Grubb
Integrating Student Services with Instruction
Chaffey College’s Long Journey to Success
Chaffey College in California's Inland Empire is renowned for its "risk tolerant change-oriented culture" and impressive student support programs, which have led to exceptional outcomes for Chaffey students. In this working paper, researchers…
2011 WP Grubb
Student Support Services
Their Possibilities and Limits
The voluntary nature of student support services in California Community Colleges means that many students who need them do not use them, due to competing demands or stigma. The lack of funding for student services and the prevalence of adjunct…
wp
Innovation in Developmental Education
The Landscape and the Locus of Change
This PACE working paper examines six types of innovations to improve developmental education in California Community Colleges: individual practitioner efforts, departmental developments, learning communities, K-12 initiatives, Faculty Interest…