Say Anything Blog

Whistler, I don’t disagree that it’s a poor move to make this announcement in the face of increased funding demands from the state.  The problem, though, is that in order to keep competitive with other schools (who often give a 100% tuition break to faculty and staff), they need to offer a benefit like this to stay competitive in the job market and to keep their employees from jumping ship.  Especially in the face of an increased presence of online teaching options for faculty (full disclosure: I work for an online college in a staff capacity), tuition breaks are an expected benefit.

It’s not unlike the question that gets asked of a lot of North Dakota Republicans seeking office: ‘will you eschew out-of-state contributions to ensure that you’re representing the state’s citizens’ interests?’ Well, if they do, they put themselves at a distinct disadvantage if their competitors don’t make the same commitment.

Ideologically, I agree with you, but practically, it’s the right move by Kupchella.  Failure to offer what’s (unfortunately?) considered a standard university benefit would erode the quality of employees the university could attract.

That’s true that an huge driver pushing education up is a nationwide trend.  But this is a problem.

I heard today that UND has to cut 2 million in academic spending??  but it has nothing to do with moving to D1

Since this is the same bunch that believes everything is a zero sum proposition; who will be charged 50% more in tuition to make up the loss?

The Whistler, it sounds as though you don’t believe in the “magic of the marketplace”. If they can raise fees and get a net increase in revenue, then their previous fees were too low. Supply and demand you see.

If you think that somehow tuition fees should be at a “sensible” (as defined by you or some other, but not the market) level, then you’re a statist/socialist/economic-populist.

By saying that faculty need to work more, like from 8am-6pm, and 250 days a year, sounds a little like Marx’s labor theories. Someone living off a return on investment, like interest or dividends, is getting income with no labor. Why shouldn’t a faculty member? Isn’t he simply doing the same, but their “investment” is their knowledge. It takes considerable effort to become a master of a field of knowledge.

Also, many of faculty work more like 8am-8pm, and later (and my supervisor has been working to 1am recently, and in on both days of the weekends, I know because I am there too). Sounds like you’re a lazy part-timer, only 8-6, 5 days a week, damn that’d be nice, it’d be like a holiday. 

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

The Whistler, it sounds as though you don’t believe in the “magic of the marketplace”.

“Higher education” is a monopoly, shielded from market forces.

With hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies.

But pull the subsidies and let them compete on the market.  Perhaps help students directly rather than funneling it through the schools if you want to help kids out.

But what we are doing is not working.

Some college faculty work hard, many don’t.  The hard workers are probably worth more in a free market.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Why is that Kevin? There are some 20,000 universities and community colleges, plus there are plenty of other countries that happily take American students and often cheaper fees too. With such choice, how can you claim there is a monopoly?

The EU has announced they’ll be throwing a few billion at PhD and post-doc. scholarships. I know I’ll be applying soon.

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

The billions of dollars nationwide (as opposed to my ND number) tends to keep private competition out.

I think the EU’s doing this will not catch them up with our spending.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

If you think that somehow tuition fees should be at a “sensible” (as defined by you or some other, but not the market) level, then you’re a statist/socialist/economic-populist.

You’re sounding more like a real anarchist all the time.

The EU has announced they’ll be throwing a few billion at PhD and post-doc. scholarships. I know I’ll be applying soon.

I’m not surprised. Heaven forbid you have to earn a living in the private sector!
Good luck with your continuation of “playing school.”
Enjoy European socialism, cramped quarters and warm beer.

AV,

If you are going to invoke free market economics into the discussion about higher education, then perhaps the very first consideration should be to eliminate the blatant disincentive called tenure.

Just about everyone has known teachers (not “educators") who are hard working and devoted first and foremost to their students.  I’ve known a few too.  But if you’re running a fruit stand, mixing good apples and bad is never a good idea.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Ken, that I’d take a government handout to do research shows I’ve got a price where I’ll happily abandon any silly belief system. Being poor and idealistic sorta sux. 

Bat One, tenure has issues, but atleast it gives protection to outspoken individuals, like Noam Chomsky or Alan Dershowitz. (One of these two is a lying piece of crap, and best he opens his mouth and proves himself a fool, but maybe he is good at teaching law.)

The govt pressuring universities to fire staff it didn’t like would be a little too much like China.

Whistler, maybe a voucher system for universities would make them try harder?

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

Ken, that I’d take a government handout to do research shows I’ve got a price where I’ll happily abandon any silly belief system. Being poor and idealistic sorta sux.

I don’t blame you one bit, and if the government offers it, and you are entitled to it, take it.

That does not necessarily compromise your principles.

Being poor and idealistic sorta sux. 

Only to those who can’t link the two.

...if the government offers it, and you are entitled to it, take it.

Ken,

My, what an exquisitely sneaky left hook.  No wonder he never saw it coming!

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

I’d like to think Marvin Hagler would approve.

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However the last legislative session opened up the pocketbook and tuition STILL went up.

There is a logical reason for this.  Once the schools have more money, they use it to attract more students.  With more students, they need more infrastructure.  More infrastructure means that they need more money,hence increased tuition.

It will only get worse.  As money increases, the schools will start lowering admissions standards to attract more students.  By doing that, they will need more remedial courses for the marginal students they admit.  That means they need more money.

It’s a racket.

"Although I can accept talking scarecrows, lions and great wizards in emerald cities, I find it hard to believe there is no paperwork involved when your house lands on a witch.”
- Dave James

Regarding the University of North Dakota they’ve pretty much stabilized the population (and raised admission standards).

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

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