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Governor Mitch Daniels |
During that quarter century the price of tuition and expenses such as for books has soared, far above the rate of inflation. Meanwhile college campuses have modernized considerably, building often opulent facilities for their students.
When people talk about the enormous cost of higher education, the focus is always on how to make more money available to students, either through grants or loans. No one ever challenges the spending by colleges and universities, demanding that they hold the line on costs or educate students for less.
I have at times complained about Governor Mitch Daniels' failure to exercise strong oversight over state agency officials and the decision to ignore whistleblowers who have pointed out problems at the agencies. It is frustrating to me that Governor Daniels otherwise excellent tenure is marred by scandals and mismanagement that were entirely avoidable. But where Governor Daniels has excelled is on budgetary matters, characterized chiefly by a steadfast demand that state government hold the line on costs. He was even willing to touch the third rail of Indiana politics - K-12 education - which for years have had their budgets increased far above the inflation rate.
I don't buy for a second that Governor Daniels hailing from a non-academic environment is a bad thing. There is a reason the term "ivory tower" is part of our lexicon and most often applies to colleges and universities. Too often administrators and faculty at those institutions are oblivious to the practicalities of living in the real world inhabited by their students. It is about time we had a university president who demanded that the school hold the line on spending and offer a more affordable education product for its students. Governor Daniels' insistence on controlling costs at Purdue, as he has as Governor, has the opportunity to revolutionize higher education in Indiana.
8 comments:
My viewpoints and sentiments exactly! Good analysis, Paul.
I grant that you cost of Higher Education has for students has been excessive. But where was Daniels in this debate. Silent. The GA has given in too often to the capital funds for higher ed. Now the "blade" goes to college. He will fail. How will we measure that failure? He will be a great fundraiser. But he will fail because the on tenure issue. Those professors will not roll over like state employees. He, I half suspect, is using Purdue as a stepping stone to something higher. Don't forget he put a million dollars of his own money in Aiming Higher when it had no funds. He is a man-in-a-suit. Even at Lilly's when he was VP; it was in governmental affairs. Let's face it Paul you like Mitchie. He has like so many other Republican GovernorS has hurt public education. He is the heir of Goldsmith on privatization. Lov ya. Groucho
This is good for the prospect of education. Coupled with today's SCOTUS 1st Amend ruling, clock riding professors may find themselves getting schooled.
"I have at times complained about Governor Mitch Daniels' failure to exercise strong oversight over state agency officials and the decision to ignore whistleblowers who have pointed out problems at the agencies. It is frustrating to me that Governor Daniels otherwise excellent tenure is marred by scandals and mismanagement that were entirely avoidable."
AMEN!
Paul,
Durham got the word from the people. When does the system let the other avoidable crimes get prosecuted? The legal and law enforcement communities certainly know about them
Oh, great. Now Daniels can start selling off Purdue's assets!
Considering how well that's worked out for the Toll Road, I shudder.
What else will he do? Ban genetic research in the ag department?
Politics and education are a bad, bad mix.
Ellen, we've given higher education administrators a green light to raise tuition and costs ever year with zero accountability for containing the cost of higher education. Now there is someone who is going to hold them accountable. I can't help but think that will be a good thing.
Look at what's happening right now at the University of Virginia, where a corporate takeover of the university is underway:
"There is this sort of shift in the zeitgeist," says Tal Brewer, chair of UVA's Philosophy Department. Brewer sees a new, heightened cultural "adoration of the business mind as capable of bringing clarity, organization and efficiency to any kind of institution...I just think that's a deep mistake."
"In an era in which the best and the brightest financiers laid the groundwork for the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the Supreme Court allowed corporate sponsors and wealthy donors to upend the political system with unlimited campaign contributions, Brewer says he sees the upheaval in Charlottesville as more of the same."
Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/24/uva-teresa-sullivan-ouster-_n_1619261.html
Paul,
While I agree that ever increasing tuition costs are a problem, I disagree with the idea that Mitch Daniels will bring Purdue's tuition under control.
If you would want to revisit this issue in say summer, 2015 when Purdue announces the tuition cost for the 2015 to 2016 academic year, I would really pay attention. My prediction is that Purdue's tuition will have increased by approximately as much as IU's.
It does not matter to me if Mitch brings Purdue's spending under control, if nothing is done to control Purdue's tuition.
If you could suggest some other way of measuring Mitch Daniels' success or failure, it would be useful.
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