If you want to read the article, here it is.
In reading, the idea sounds good. The CEO stated this reason for working with Bain:
"Instead, he wants to create a model of higher education that, he says, is more accessible, more flexible, and more student-focused. "The one thing at the forefront of everything we do is what can we do to drive down the cost of instruction and the time that it takes to complete a four-year degree while maintaining quality," Price says." I could get on board with that idea. But what does it really mean for this campus? Will things actually change?Oh, and PS, Bain is doing the work valued at $1 million for free.
The article really intrigued me for three reasons. One it brought up a potentially new way to rearrange higher education. Two, faculty at the university are not excited about bring in a business consulting group. Finally, if this works, the potential for change across higher education could be a tidal wave.
As I have sat in classes this semester and heard over and over again how the current system of higher education may not be working but this is the historical way things have always happened, I feel like I'm in a whirlpool trying to figure out a solution before the water runs out. I don't know if this is a solution but it is a potentially out of the box way to change the current state of higher education. On the other hand, what will actually change? it sounds to me like the consulting firm is there to look at curriculum content. We are going through a general education change and review here at Metro State. Is there any difference?
Faculty are challenged and I could see why. This sounds like it is potentially challenging academia at its core where faculty live and buy into even with the flaws and challenges. If someone want to come in an completely change the functions of student affairs that have been at the core of the profession since its inception, I might freak out too.
In my opinion, this model to me will thrive or fold and I will be watching this one closely. I think if it thrives the potential of change is huge. If it fails, it will be swept under a rug until the next time people are fed up with higher education and try it again. I do think that something to watch about this partnership is the potential for it to lead to the privatization of a public school depending on the results. This is another way higher education is allowing an outsider come in to the house, have a say, and make changes. I would be caution of this because we have little to no experience as to the results of these partnerships.
This is going to get interesting.....
Great post, and timely to boot. It has been almost frightening how many times things have been "fitting together" for me since we left class on Saturday evening. The convergence of concepts (from both classes) has struck me on several occasions. I think that my family is concerned about how often I am muttering "neo-liberalism" under my breath as we watch a movie, listen to a news story, or watch a documentary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article, it will be interesting to see how and if this works in the intended way. I suppose it would be interesting to truly explore what is intended prior to attempting to answer that question.
For me the convergence has gone beyond the weekend class to include or Scholarly Writing class as well. Neo-Liberal concepts seem to but up against Critical Race Theory on a regular basis.
Last night we watched a really interesting documentary on Harry Belafonte that tied together neo-liberal concepts with critical race theory in a powerful way for me. If you have HBO or access to the documentary, check out Sing Your Song if you can.
http://www.phillytrib.com/entertainmentarticles/item/1038-hbo-documentary-examines-harry-belafonte.html
I have always been bothered by the amount of money that institutions (or at least the one I work at) spend on outside consulting agencies. In addition the consulting agency, it seems like we spend a lot of money on vendor services as well. First, the consulting agency....do we not employ hundreds of very intelligent people that have insight and, often, academic and professional expertise in the areas that we are paying consultants to offer an opinion on. I have been exposed to (or participated in) sessions by these high-paid consultants, one of my favorites (please add sarcasm) was one we did a few years ago to look at diversity on campus and determine how we could create a more diverse culture. Important topics...but why spend the money? Could we not have talked with the experts on our own campus...perhaps the faculty teaching in particular areas? Perhaps the faculty who had infused diversity into their curriculum? What about the student affairs professionals who have had courses in the very topic? And why not students who live and create a diverse campus every day? I believe we could save significant amounts of money by using the expertise within rather than paying a third party. Secondly, outside vendors. In my field (recruitment), we pay an ENORMOUS of money to outside vendors because of the things they are perceived to do for us. There are some cool tools, but I do not believe much of it is necessary. Many of the tools duplicate things that others do...yet, we buy them anyway. I am not sure if these two examples really fit into neo-liberalism or not, but it sure feels like two more ways we are inviting big-business into traditional education without truly thinking of potential ramifications.
ReplyDeleteA quick 2-cent comment...I believe the current system of higher education is working fine. It does what it is designed to do and for the most part does a really good job. Yes, we face many challenges, but these issues tend to mirror the ones the U.S. is facing in general. Can we (US higher education) be doing better...of course. But at what cost?
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, it sounds like this CEO wants to develop an institutional mission that is substantively different than at other public institutions. I wish the institution well and will be excited to read more about it over the next 5-10 years.