In this essay, I examine the Córdoba University Reform Movement of 1918 through both a historical lens and the application of Urie Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1986, 1993) ecological systems theory. Examining the Reform Movement at the National University of Córdoba (UNC) from a historical perspective elucidates the complexities of the movement and its resulting legacies, particularly its essential role in shaping the Latin American higher education tradition of academic freedom and university autonomy. Building on this historical perspective, I utilize the context component of Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1986, 1993) ecological systems model to explore how issues, challenges, and opportunities to improve institutional policy and culture arose at different levels within the student activist experience at UNC. This examination reveals the importance of studying identity formation among student activists so higher education practitioners can build campus environments to effectively promote optimal growth and holistic development for diverse student populations.Educatio
