Higher Ed Inc: Bring on the Mercedes and Merlot

Phantom Prof has a zinger of a post about higher education and its ills. Here is a snip, do read the whole thing. (Via Rita Rud)

I sat through a two-hour seminar last year at which the names of “peer universities” (schools about the same size) were flashed on a big screen, along with their hefty endowment figures. Our campus’ endowment was too far behind them, we were told by the provost. We needed to rev up revenue to catch up to our fellow private schools. This was the only required-attendance meeting for faculty last year (as I recall). No mention was made of inspiring students, engaging in meaningful research or anything having to do with actual education. It was all about dollars and the getting of more of them.