Welcome to the future of higher education. "a competitive consumer-driven-market..."

[white_wolf]

This email came out a couple of weeks ago from the Chancellor of University of Tennessee, and it really bothered me. He emphasizes selling the school's brand and marketing I'll post the link to the story, it's very short, but here is the part that really annoys me:

"Higher education is now a competitive, consumer-driven market that targets students and their parents. We must clearly and consistently convey UT’s strengths, citing ranking lists, college guide books, advertising, and various online tools about universities."

I'm sorry Jimmy Cheek, but education should not be a market, it should not be consumer driven. Higher education has one purpose, to serve the students and educated them for the future, not to make profit. If you want to make money, go join a corporation, but while you serve as chancellor you should actually "serve" the students and the community. I firmly oppose state institutions being made into "markets" and used to make a profit. If the state must exist, it should exist to serve the people, not to make profit for corporations, which UT does. For instance all of their clothing is made by sweat shops, their food court is outsourced to Aramark, which is a very convenient way to circumvent the Campus Worker's Union.

I am curious to know what you all think of it, and if anyone here has experienced anything similar on other campuses around the country. Am I completely overreacting here? Here is the full story: http://chancellor.utk.edu/newsletter/0212-big_orange.php

[enki23]

1. consumer driven = providing the service of printing degree certificates for those who can pay

.

[hifiguy]

2. ^THAT^ nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. I'm taking 'classes' at KhanAcadamy and The Open University for free

I don't get that piece of paper at the end, but I'm not learning for anyone else anyway. I'm learning for me.

http://www.khanacademy.org/

http://www.open.ac.uk/

[WCGreen]

6. The Khan academy is really cool... THANK YOU.....

I have some serious health problems that keep me teethered to the house so this is great stuff.

I have a friend whose grandkids are almost to the algebra age and I thought I could help them. This is a great way to brush up so I can help the boys get through the worst parts...

The section on the credit crisis looks really good and I think I might look into learning how to program. I learned a long time ago before Windows so stuff has changed a lot....

[Newest Reality]

4. I am not a corporation

and I don't subscribe to corporate dogma. I'm not a CEO, board member, shareholder or even an employee.

Therefore, my opinion and response to your post has no value or bearing on any action deemed appropriate by the owners.

My views, knowledge and actions have only served to create an endless stream of frustrations and even anxieties. The charade now indicates that you have to own and control something to effect or change it. That's been the ascendent new deal and it is pretty much enacted.

I've whittled it down real close to my bones. That feels like freedom, at least.

Thanks to the OP though.

[infidel dog]

5. Sadly, our educational institutions are increasingly "profit" motivated and oriented.

All part of the joys of living in a late-phase capitalist society, you know. And I don't think you are overreacting at all, Mr. Wolf.

[Starry Messenger]

7. Each student now has a dollar amount on their back.

Getting all the dollars off of you as you move through the assembly line is foremost. Sadly, that kind of crap probably comes from higher up the chain than the Chancellor. It's probably your Board of Trustees or a similar body. They are usually non-educators and/or local monied sorts.

[mike_c]

8. we're hearing that same nonsense as justification for privatization of the California St. University

Charlie Reed is all over that nonsense. He wants partnership with the Western Governor's University, an online diploma mill that has "mentors" rather than professors, and where curriculum design is described as "a product management function" that "course mentors" are not involved with. I kid you not. Everything is for-profit in America.

[white_wolf]

9. On top of what I posted above the school is also going to spend millions on a new studen center...

despite the fact that the current one is in fine shape and everyone I've talked to is fine with the current one and at the same time they are cutting back on classes. I don't know how you expect to become a better ranked school by cutting classes, I guess its the trickle down theory of education.