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[wavelet]

Academia doesn't make sense to me. If there are so many willing and ready professors who want to teach and such a dearth of jobs, but such a glut of students and rising tuitions, why are there not more new universities to take advantage of that demand? Especially with all of that money in the hands of the so-called "hyper rich." Didn't the hyper rich of the robber baron days all want colleges and libraries named after them? I'm not sayng I want to teach at Bill Gates university, (I don't and for one thing I don't use windows), but I think with all the very clever and innovative people wasting their time looking for jobs in the current system, maybe the way out is to start your own department and with enough people, raise the cash find some property and start a university, get accredited, etc. etc.

I`m in philosophy (and a card carrying idealist) and I once suggested to a VERY wealthy person that i`d like to start a high school and maybe an adjoining two-year college program around a philosophically centered curriculum for disadvantaged urban kids. Far from getting laughed out of the room, he said that if I was serious about it, he could see it happening with a foundation or a board of well known rich folks, or even public funds. I wasn't serious of course, since I still imagined working in the system as is, but you know I'm never going to get a job with the way things are, and now I wonder if turning entrepreneur isn't the answer, to help myself and a lot of others too.

I'll just throw the question out there. Judging from what I've seen one couldn't very well do any worse than all of the mismanaged places out there. Crazy or not? How hard is it to do? Has anyone tried something like this before?

[anon]

> If there are so many willing and ready professors who want to teach and such a dearth of jobs, but such a glut of students and rising tuitions, why are there not more new universities to take advantage of that demand?

The only classes taught would be:
English, history, gender studies, philsophy, anthropology, biology, theoretical mathematics.

There would be no accounting, economics, engineering, nursing, most hard sciences... or really almost anything that makes money after graduation.  (I suppose math majors and bio majors make something in industry.)

So you could do a great books program.

I heard about philosophy classes for homeless adults on NPR about a decade ago.  There are high schools attached to public colleges in various areas as well (Uni High at UIUC, TAMS at Texas at Arlington, etc.)  There are also high schools specifically for bright Urban poor (like Whitney Young in Chicago).  There are new private universites started from time to time, often by religious cults.

[prytania 3]

I think it's quite entrprenerial. There are actually some new colleges springing up-- a lot of them around the theme of students from impoverished areas (most of these are actually in rural areas where the poverty is growing fastest.) I think it can be done, but it takes a lot of vision, hardwork, and great abilities to schoomze with the rich. I know it can be done but you really have to want it and pretty much--that's your life's work.

[Jennifer]

I think you could do it if your were determined enough and did enough research to find where the demand is. I know there is a big push for charter schools in my area, especially since the city is suffering from all kinds of things - bad mayor and lots of seedy things happening with the administration - parents are pulling their kids out in droves and sending them to charter schools instead. The population in charter schools has increased significantly the last few years. I'm not sure what's involved, but a lot of charter schools are financed partially from - or sponsored by - local universities. Perhaps that's where you should start.

[cautious]

Beware using the charter schools example. I recall reading in the Wall Street Journal a couple of years ago that there are charter schools in Texas that couldnt make the state standards so they lowered the standards so they could still get funding. And many charter school owners have absconded with funds!

All this to reconcile the state;s fascinatiion with standards and charter schools at the same time.


A good reason, though, for a university is to challenge the craziness of standardized tests as there will be many students in the near future who will be tired of them after 12 years of it!

[Dr. Zarkov]

After you are sure of funding, the next hurdle is to satisfy the regional accreditors and state regulators.  Both can be very time and paperwork intensive, and the state laws vary a lot from place to place.  Some states more or less prevent competition by making you show there is a need for your program that is not met by exisiting schools.

PS: about great books,  I think that is that shtick of Thomas More in New Hampshire, thomasmorecollege.edu -- which was started just a few years ago.

[Eleanor]

Why would anyone want the hassle of this?

[%sig%]

[tt arts]

Um, it's no joke to start a school. A don't know about your area, but, my state is having budget problems and there's no money. So generally, running a school is not a big money maker.

Having said that, what you need to do is (1) come up with a business plan (get a book out the library, or call the SBA) and  (2) chat with a lawyer about becoming a non-profit. I believe the relevent section is 501 (c)(3). You can do it yourself, but it is pleasant to have an overview of the process with a professional.

One thing I learned in developing my own plans for a (small) school, is that grant finding to organizations is usually not available for capital starts, and is generally unavailable until your non profit has proved itself for three years. Based on this information (which I gleaned with the help of grants librarians and a lot of research) I have shelved my ideas for the time being.

But if it is your passion, I wish you only the best!

[jjg]

Students can get federal financial aid only from institutions that are regionally accredited so gaining accreditation is a key issue.  Accrediting bodies look at the financial soundness of the institution as well as student services, library holdings, and number of full-time faculty.  The place to start is with the accrediting body in your region so you have an accurate picture of what it takes to start a new college.

[milou]

I have always thought it was an interesting idea. It might have to be done as a cooperative venture by a large group of Ph.Ds who were unemployed and/or unable to move.


                                  Milou