Scott Walker Strikes Again

Accuracy in Academia ^ | May 1, 2015 | Malcolm A. Kline

[Academiadotorg]

For a quarter of a century, Republican presidential candidates have uttered variations of George H. W. Bush’s high pitched pledge: “I want to be the education president.” It has gotten them exactly nowhere.

So far, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is trying a different approach, one that dovetails interestingly with some surprising changes in how colleges run themselves. Simply put, Governor Walker urged universities in the badger state to teach more and spend less.

Now, universities far from badgerland are actually trying, in their academic way, to do just that. For example, just about every issue of the GW Hatchet at George Washington University brings news of budget cuts there.

The latest: Imaginative lawmakers from outside the Midwest are proposing reforms remarkably similar to Governor Walker’s. “A bill introduced in late March in the North Carolina General Assembly has set college faculty members across the state abuzz with a bold suggestion: Require all professors within the University of North Carolina system to teach at least eight courses each academic yea,” Paul L.Caron of the Pepperdine School of Law reports on his blog. “Senate Bill 593, titled ‘Improve Professor Quality/UNC System,’ would reduce the salary of any professor who fails to hit that annual mark.”

“The backlash from faculty across the state was immediate -- and unsurprising. Professors expressed outrage. Many said a mandated 4/4 course load -- four courses per semester -- would make it impossible to focus on their research and other responsibilities.”

[TontoKowalski]

My son had an awesome class setup for one of his Gen Ed requirements. I think it was Sociology or somesuch.

The class met online at a set time. The professor taught through a video feed. The students could present questions about the text/assignments via email, or they could ask something directly on the chat toolbar and the professor would answer in class.

Assignments were online. As for testing, students reported to one of the university's (or partnering community college) testing centers for proctored testing.

The students gained the benefit of "live" instruction, coupled with the convenience of online meetings and assignment submission.

I have no idea how many students may have been in those classes, but they required minimal infrastructure. Heck, the professor himself could have lived in Timbuktu, and it would have been irrelevant to the class.

[rdcbn]

Wow, did not know those were available on line. Gonna be busy for the next few days.

[Petrosius]

One of the biggest mistakes in higher education was requiring a Ph.D. for professors at the university. A Ph.D. is a research degree, not a teaching one. All this requirement does is provide prestige to the university. It does not guarantee competent teachers at the undergraduate level. Historically what was required for undergraduate teaching was only a M.A.

[Hiddigeigei]

Their research does nothing for any students (except perhaps the lucky few who might actually participate) and has very little to do with education.
Research brings in grants, out of which the university takes a large percent off the top called “overhead.” These grants often support graduate students directly and support personnel such as secretaries and administrators indirectly. This is why universities like research. Whether research is otherwise beneficial is another question. It probably is in the field of medicine and other sciences.

[Maine Mariner]

The college that I teach at does not have tenure. I have a mandatory performance review every five years. Also, for faculty who performance becomes poor, they are required to undergo review and may be terminated for say poor teaching.

Some but not all science and engineering professors should have reduced teaching loads.

I certainly agree with you on the workloads for the “studies professors.”

[ConservingFreedom]

Their research does nothing for any students (except perhaps the lucky few who might actually participate) and has very little to do with education.

Research brings in grants, out of which the university takes a large percent off the top called “overhead.” These grants often support graduate students directly and support personnel such as secretaries and administrators indirectly.

Like I said.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Governor Walker urged universities in the badger state to teach more and spend less.

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[q_an_a]

good post...

[Norseman]

I believe he’s legally bound by the current law to not say anything because he’s one of the targets of the investigation.

And you can bet something will be done to change the current John Doe law.

As for whether the perpetrators of the misuse of the law suffer any criminal or civil penalties, I don’t know, but they should.

If a court stops this nonsense, and hopefully soon, I suspect you’ll then hear a lot from Gov. Walker on the entire matter.

[napscoordinator]

Bush got scammed by Ted Kennedy on Education

So sick of Republicans getting screwed by Democrats. I mean Reagan was too. Are they not strong enough to say no? Never do the Democrats get screwed by Republicans.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Ended In-State Tuition for illegals
Ended Sanctuary Cities
Placing Americans before trespassers
Broke public sector unions in Wisconsin resulting in huge savings
Transformed Wisconsin into a “right to work” state
Drug testing for public assistance recipients
Tax cuts
Budget controls
Economic growth faster than the national average”

Come, now! You cannot POSSIBLY think that THIS is enough for the PURISTS around here. *SNORT*

You know what? We’ll set America back on track WITHOUT them; we don’t need them! :)

Love My Gov!