ARL: A Bimonthly Report on Research Library Issues and Actions from ARL, CNI, and SPARC. Number 234 (original) (raw)
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The Troubled Future of Colleges and Universities
PS: Political Science & Politics, 2013
The American system of higher education appears poised for disruptive change of potentially historic proportions due to massive new political, economic, and educational forces that threaten to undermine its business model, governmental support, and operating mission. These forces include dramatic new types of economic competition, difficulties in growing revenue streams as we had in the past, relative declines in philanthropic and government support, actual and likely future political attacks on universities, and some outdated methods of teaching and learning that have been unchanged for hundreds of years.
Faculty of the Future: Facing the Forces for Change
Financial and technology forces have combined to dramatically change the milieu of higher education. In terms of financial forces, we examine changing student demographics, the level of student debt, shrinking levels of governmental support, and philanthropic limitations. We conclude that the financial model that has served postsecondary education well for many years is now significantly strained. In terms of technology forces, we examine increasing automation of jobs involving predictable processes or finding rules-based answers; the increasing prevelance of outsourcing; and a growing skills/competency gap, both in the general job market and in the accounting profession. Technology advances have transformed academic research and publishing, and have been incorporated into familiar ways of teaching. However, as yet, they have not significantly changed either what we teach (curriculum) or how we teach (pedagogy); changes in these areas may accompany future financial models. We provide examples of institutional responses to date and discuss the importance of strategic planning. We also discuss the arguments for and against individual business and accounting faculty getting involved in efforts to face the forces for change. Concluding thoughts consider the window of time to institute major change and potential future research.
Budget Cuts in Higher Education: The Case of WVU and a Look into the Future
Intercom, 2023
Engaging faculty, staff, students, and community partners in working together can help universities to look to the future. BY THOMAS BARKER | Fellow While this article is being composed, a new Fall semester is starting at universities across North America. The breezy blue skies, crisp temperatures, and yellowing leaves bring an air of excitement to the hearts of students and faculty. They do to mine, as I look out over the University of Alberta Campus from my office window in the Humanities Centre. The grassy green lawn with the babbling fishpond is dotted with clusters of students sporting backpacks and sweaters.
2002
presidents and System heads from seven western States around a common table to address their shared challenges in leading public higher education.The Roundtable was held on July 15, 2002 in San Diego, California. Plainly stated, the Roundtable's premise was that inadequate financial support from the State is a permanent condition we must adjust to, not a temporary situation to endure. At the same time, the responsibility to educate and prepare students, generate knowledge and innovation, and address major policy issues on behalf of the State is in no way shrinking; and competition from for-profit institutions has brought new market forces into play. Given the challenges, presidents and chancellors find themselves thinking, "There must be a better way. There must be something we can do differently." Participants were asked to speak openly and candidly about what needs to change and what they would like to try, if given the opportunity. Many ideas arose in the course of the free-flowing discussion. Some can be implemented immediately; others would need to be phased in. Some are being done at other institutions so there are models to look at; others are at the cutting edge and would require further discussion and study. Participants also articulated the characteristics necessaryin governance, finance, and leadershipif American public higher education is to fulfill its historical mission and uphold its worldwide premier status. In a very real sense, these characteristics are operating principles that must be established and practiced if the ideas shared at the Roundtable are to be implemented and succeed.
American Higher Education in Transition
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2012
American higher education is in transition along many dimensions: tuition levels, faculty composition, expenditure allocation, pedagogy, technology, and more. During the last three decades, at private four-year academic institutions, undergraduate tuition levels increased each year on average by 3.5 percent more than the rate of inflation; the comparable increases for public four-year and public two-year institutions were 5.1 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. Academic institutions have also changed how they allocate their resources. The percentage of faculty nationwide that is full-time has declined, and the vast majority of part-time faculty members do not have Ph.D.s. The share of institutional expenditures going to faculty salaries and benefits in both public and private institutions has fallen relative to the share going to nonfaculty uses like student services, academic support, and institutional support. There are changing modes of instruction, together with different use...