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[itried]

I just listened to a radio interview with Benjamin Ginsberg, author of The Fall of the Faculty: the Rise of the All-Administrative University and Why it Matters. Perversely, I was heartened to learn that the increasingly bloated, inept, and corrupt administration at my own uni reflects a trend all over academia.

Read a review of the book and brief interview with Ginsberg here: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=416841

Has anyone read the book yet?

[rebelgirl]

I haven't read it, no, but this one statistic (if the author cites it) would be worth the price of admission, as legislators swing axes at faculty salaries and benefits, arguing that's the major cost to be cut:

". . . . He juxtaposes [anecdotes] with historical analysis and data showing that the growth in the ranks of administrators (85 per cent) and associated professional staff (240 per cent) has far outstripped the increase in faculty (51 per cent) between 1975 and 2005."

I know that faculty have declined proportionally to administrators and staff, but these percentages seem high.  If the data can be verified, though, they would certainly be useful for faculty unions, particularly if coupled with some comparative salary data.  If anyone has links - ?