Graham B. Spanier, president of the Pennsylvania State University system, explains why it's more difficult to be president of a public university now than it was just a few years ago, and why today's college presidents are seldom inclined to speak out on political issues.
September 30, 2009
Graham Spanier: The Changing Role of the Public-University President
Penn State Department of Public Information
Penn State Department of Public Information
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1. johngoss - October 01, 2009 at 10:14 am
I find this all a bit odd. Penn State has to decide what it is. One day it is a state university; the next day it is a state-related/quasi-private university; the next day it is a private university which receives state support. It cannot be all of these things, and Dr. Spanier's tenure as Penn State's president is well marked by this state-of-convenience approach to its relationship to the Commonwealth and the desire to incorporate into its sphere of influence any vulnerable college, technical school or truly state-owned institution that seems open for acquisition.
John R. Goss, III
2. jtgibson6 - October 01, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I was interested in Dr. Spanier's comments. however, what is indeed difficult is being the president of a Historically Black College or University. One has to offer an outstanding academic program, maintain academically gifted professors, maintain faculty and staff morale, clean and equip facilities, and so forth, with little funding. I didn't even mention fundraising with little seed money and competing for research funding with minimum wherewithal.
I wonder why we seek such jobs.
John T. Gibson
3. jwgilley - October 01, 2009 at 06:22 pm
There are fundamental problems that are being ignored. Higher education like banks, other businesses and the government has relied to heavily on debt. Billions in borrowing for athletic facilities. Billions each year in student loans for students half of whom will never get a degree. Private college tuition and fees has increased at twice the consumer price index for more than a decade now and students are encouraged to take out loans to pay those fees. Sallie Mae has become like Freddie and Fannie building a 14 story all glass administrative building and paying the ceo millions all off profits made on student loans. Coaches make 2-3 million per year now while have the college graduates have no specific job related skills. 80% of 2009 college graduates did not have full time jobs as of August of this year.
So while the president of Penn State may wax on there is a paradigm shift coming that will cause a real unwinding of the economy and higher education as we know it.