Sep 9, 2009
Exploring Academia
I have written a little essay to commemorate my three-year anniversary as head of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, which is trying to improve higher education. I have observations both cheerful and disquieting—from the discovery of a Great Books faculty “remnant” to the proliferation of what I call academic chit-chat. I thought of calling my voyage of discovery “Three Years Before the Mast,” but it turns out that “before the mast” describes the badly treated common sailors of the nineteenth century. I am supposed to be in charge of this expedition.
One of my fundamental findings over the past three years was learning who is in charge of higher education. In a nutshell, there is a vacuum, and students, parents, and taxpayers need to fill it. The great thing about higher education in the United States is that it is competitive. But that means caveat emptor.
One of my fundamental findings over the past three years was learning who is in charge of higher education. In a nutshell, there is a vacuum, and students, parents, and taxpayers need to fill it. The great thing about higher education in the United States is that it is competitive. But that means caveat emptor.