McKenzie Wark offers up some thoughts on how Occupy Wall Street is offering an allegory to counter an abstraction. And how that is a good thing. (H/t to Casey Blake)
The AFT and Bob Samuels offer an update on Occupy LA. And here is another view.
And there is emerging information about plans for college occupations.
Former Chancellors call for new funding model for UC. (h/t to Catherine Cole)
Working without the typical UC senior management blind spot, Stanton Glantz and Eric Hays update their "restoration" report to show that moving UC into a future defined as what the state had collectively already built in 2000 (including low tuition) would now, after the Brown Cuts, cost $49 / year instead of $32 (at the median). People who don't like the median (half of all taxpayers), should note that the restoration cost to taxpayers who make $400-499,000 (the top 5%) about $4400.
SDSU establishes second LGBT major in the country.
Bernanke is worried. Blames everyone else. Maybe it would help if he read this.
Yale's endowment grew 22% last year.
But while some wealth grew poverty grew too.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Links for Monday October 3
Lots concerning Occupy Wall Street and its offshoots, student costs and debt, and the economic crises facing California in today's links. Just check below the fold:
The journal Reclamations has issued a pamphlet about and against student debt, and Reclaim UC has posted about it.
CHE blogger Marc Bousquet Occupies San Jose, calling it a relief from "top-down academic wankery." Occupy Wall Street is being well- and continuously-analyzed at Fire Dog Lake. "We're the 99%" is settling in a the pivotal slogan. "We're the 99%" also applies to public universities: it's the percentage of US college students who do NOT attend the "Ivy League Plus" colleges (Ivies plus Stanford, Duke and six other high-ranking privates).
The images of Occupy Wall Street just keep coming.
Occupy Los Angeles takes up its place at City Hall.
Debating the meanings of Occupy Wall Street. Be sure to read the comments.
Kevin Gosztola offers more thoughts on the relationship of Occupy Wall Street and more institutionalized campaigns.
Schools scramble for online ventures: but to what end?
UCOP announces new guidelines for self-supporting graduate programs.
Academic Senate offers a less fantasy-based evaluation of Grad Funding than UCOP's.
The American Historical Association is urging its members to broaden their conceptions of a career and think more broadly about employment and training.
What went wrong with Business Schools?
Peter Schrag has some thoughts on the depth of California's housing Crisis. And why it has been so difficult to get politicians to tackle it.
California Community Colleges received 37 Million in Grants for Science Education from the Feds.
The journal Reclamations has issued a pamphlet about and against student debt, and Reclaim UC has posted about it.
CHE blogger Marc Bousquet Occupies San Jose, calling it a relief from "top-down academic wankery." Occupy Wall Street is being well- and continuously-analyzed at Fire Dog Lake. "We're the 99%" is settling in a the pivotal slogan. "We're the 99%" also applies to public universities: it's the percentage of US college students who do NOT attend the "Ivy League Plus" colleges (Ivies plus Stanford, Duke and six other high-ranking privates).
The images of Occupy Wall Street just keep coming.
Occupy Los Angeles takes up its place at City Hall.
Debating the meanings of Occupy Wall Street. Be sure to read the comments.
Kevin Gosztola offers more thoughts on the relationship of Occupy Wall Street and more institutionalized campaigns.
Schools scramble for online ventures: but to what end?
UCOP announces new guidelines for self-supporting graduate programs.
Academic Senate offers a less fantasy-based evaluation of Grad Funding than UCOP's.
The American Historical Association is urging its members to broaden their conceptions of a career and think more broadly about employment and training.
What went wrong with Business Schools?
Peter Schrag has some thoughts on the depth of California's housing Crisis. And why it has been so difficult to get politicians to tackle it.
California Community Colleges received 37 Million in Grants for Science Education from the Feds.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Links for Sptember 30
Sorry for the lack of links the past couple of days--it has been a very busy week. Anyway, we have a bunch for you below the fold.
And don't forget Stan Glantz's post on UC privatization immediately below!
Cal State Faculty Union asks for a strike authorization after administration refuses to pay negotiated salaries.
The Bay Guardian raises the simple question: why didn't the SF Chronicle run Peter Byrne's story on the Regents?
Hate Crimes at UC Berkeley rose last year.
Marcy Wheeler and Glen Greenwald offer analyses of why the corporate media is proving so hostile to Occupy Wall Street and what that tells us.
While Yves Smith and Jonathan Turley wonder what has happened to civil liberties.
Still Occupy Wall Street goes on and explores new forms of dissent. And the airline pilots approve.
Other New York Labor Unions are joining in as well.
Occupy Wall Street has issues a Declaration.
In California school districts and administrators are challenging the budget agreement in court. You can find more on this story at the LAT.
Brown is considering bill on to allow more diversity considerations in admissions.
George Breslauer explains what makes a public university. (scroll down) (h/t to Cloudminder)
House Republicans push to cut back on the Pell Grant Program.
Growing Debate over the proper focus for General Ed.
US incomes fell last month.
And don't forget Stan Glantz's post on UC privatization immediately below!
Cal State Faculty Union asks for a strike authorization after administration refuses to pay negotiated salaries.
The Bay Guardian raises the simple question: why didn't the SF Chronicle run Peter Byrne's story on the Regents?
Hate Crimes at UC Berkeley rose last year.
Marcy Wheeler and Glen Greenwald offer analyses of why the corporate media is proving so hostile to Occupy Wall Street and what that tells us.
While Yves Smith and Jonathan Turley wonder what has happened to civil liberties.
Still Occupy Wall Street goes on and explores new forms of dissent. And the airline pilots approve.
Other New York Labor Unions are joining in as well.
Occupy Wall Street has issues a Declaration.
In California school districts and administrators are challenging the budget agreement in court. You can find more on this story at the LAT.
Brown is considering bill on to allow more diversity considerations in admissions.
George Breslauer explains what makes a public university. (scroll down) (h/t to Cloudminder)
House Republicans push to cut back on the Pell Grant Program.
Growing Debate over the proper focus for General Ed.
US incomes fell last month.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Problem is Privatization, and it Can be Reversed
by Stanton A. Glantz, Professor of Medicine, UCSF
UC (and CSU’s) ongoing financial problems are not a result of the fact that alumni are not generous, they are the result of the failed policy of privatization that UC has been following since shortly after Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor. Schwarzenegger pursued an aggressive policy of privatization designed to shift the cost of higher education away from taxpayers on to students and their families. The increases in fees, while annually presented as a response to ongoing budgetary problems, were established as policy within the Compact for Higher Education that the governor signed with the presidents of the University of California and California State University in 2005. The Compact implemented the governor's free-market ideology: A college or professional education meant higher earnings, and if people wanted those higher earnings they should be willing to pay for the necessary. State funding for education was not viewed as a responsibility to the next generation of Californians but rather as a "subsidy" which distorted the free market for education.
While I do not believe that our current governor, Jerry Brown, shares former governor Schwarzenegger's ideological position, the reality is that he is not given public higher education priority and, indeed, has accelerated the budget cuts and push to privatization.
Some University leaders have welcomed the changes, sharing the previous governor's view that privatization was a good thing that would allow the University more freedom, unfettered by the responsibilities and constraints of a public institution. Others remained committed to the idea of a public university, but felt that, given California's requirement for a two thirds vote for taxes in the state legislature combined with a rabid antitax position of the Republican minority in the legislature, privatization was inevitable. These people reluctantly saw the idea of restoring the University of California to its preeminence as a public institution of higher education as unrealistic wishful thinking.
Whatever the reason, the university's leadership has been remarkably mute in making the case for the kind of high-quality, accessible public higher education institution at the University of California served the people of California so well since UC President Clark Kerr conceived the Master Plan for Higher Education over 50 years ago.
As a result, UC’s leadership sees increases in fees as the only “reliable” option for paying the bills. Raising enough money to restore the quality UC had in 2000 will require raising fees to over $17,000.
Meanwhile there has been a disconnect between the rhetoric and expectations of both political and university leaders. On one hand, the politicians have demanded that the university act like a public institution – keeping fees low, paying people as public employees – without providing the money necessary to keep UC a truly public institution. On the other hand, many in the University wanted to run it like a private institution while taking the public funds for a long as possible.
The reality is that this situation is a recipe for disaster. The simple fact is that the kind of support provided by the people of California to the University's academic mission and to its ability to serve as a truly independent source of research simply cannot be replaced with private funding or partnerships with business or other parts of government. The net effect of the failure to recognize this fact, which was spelled out clearly in the University systemwide Academic Senate Committee on Planning and Budget in its 2006 "Futures" report was that declining funding would require the university to either shrink, become very expensive, or decline in quality. The fact is that, despite our best efforts, all of these things have been happening and will continue to happen if nothing changes.
The most frustrating aspect of this situation is that it would not cost all that much money to fix the situation. According to a calculation done two years ago, pushing the "reset" button on the entire system of higher education in California -- rolling fees back to where they were in 2000 (adjusted for inflation), returning the level of state support per student to where it was in 2000, and providing funding for all of the students who have been forced out of the system -- for the entire higher education system from the community colleges to graduate and professional education at the University of California would only cost the median tax return $32. And that's $16 a person for a joint return.
Yes, it would cause people who made more money more. People in the top 5% of California with adjusted gross incomes of $400-$500,000 a year, would pay $2800.
Unless they want to go down as the people who led UC off a cliff through a combination of accepting unrealistic right-wing ideology and political cowardice, it is time for the University leadership to stop acting like executives at a financially failing corporation and start acting like stewards of a public trust and, as UC leaders have done in the past, mobilizing the public to force the governor to provide the kind of high quality affordable higher education that he and the state’s other political leaders enjoyed.
UC (and CSU’s) ongoing financial problems are not a result of the fact that alumni are not generous, they are the result of the failed policy of privatization that UC has been following since shortly after Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor. Schwarzenegger pursued an aggressive policy of privatization designed to shift the cost of higher education away from taxpayers on to students and their families. The increases in fees, while annually presented as a response to ongoing budgetary problems, were established as policy within the Compact for Higher Education that the governor signed with the presidents of the University of California and California State University in 2005. The Compact implemented the governor's free-market ideology: A college or professional education meant higher earnings, and if people wanted those higher earnings they should be willing to pay for the necessary. State funding for education was not viewed as a responsibility to the next generation of Californians but rather as a "subsidy" which distorted the free market for education.
While I do not believe that our current governor, Jerry Brown, shares former governor Schwarzenegger's ideological position, the reality is that he is not given public higher education priority and, indeed, has accelerated the budget cuts and push to privatization.
Some University leaders have welcomed the changes, sharing the previous governor's view that privatization was a good thing that would allow the University more freedom, unfettered by the responsibilities and constraints of a public institution. Others remained committed to the idea of a public university, but felt that, given California's requirement for a two thirds vote for taxes in the state legislature combined with a rabid antitax position of the Republican minority in the legislature, privatization was inevitable. These people reluctantly saw the idea of restoring the University of California to its preeminence as a public institution of higher education as unrealistic wishful thinking.
Whatever the reason, the university's leadership has been remarkably mute in making the case for the kind of high-quality, accessible public higher education institution at the University of California served the people of California so well since UC President Clark Kerr conceived the Master Plan for Higher Education over 50 years ago.
As a result, UC’s leadership sees increases in fees as the only “reliable” option for paying the bills. Raising enough money to restore the quality UC had in 2000 will require raising fees to over $17,000.
Meanwhile there has been a disconnect between the rhetoric and expectations of both political and university leaders. On one hand, the politicians have demanded that the university act like a public institution – keeping fees low, paying people as public employees – without providing the money necessary to keep UC a truly public institution. On the other hand, many in the University wanted to run it like a private institution while taking the public funds for a long as possible.
The reality is that this situation is a recipe for disaster. The simple fact is that the kind of support provided by the people of California to the University's academic mission and to its ability to serve as a truly independent source of research simply cannot be replaced with private funding or partnerships with business or other parts of government. The net effect of the failure to recognize this fact, which was spelled out clearly in the University systemwide Academic Senate Committee on Planning and Budget in its 2006 "Futures" report
The most frustrating aspect of this situation is that it would not cost all that much money to fix the situation. According to a calculation done two years ago, pushing the "reset" button on the entire system of higher education in California -- rolling fees back to where they were in 2000 (adjusted for inflation), returning the level of state support per student to where it was in 2000, and providing funding for all of the students who have been forced out of the system -- for the entire higher education system from the community colleges to graduate and professional education at the University of California would only cost the median tax return $32. And that's $16 a person for a joint return.
Yes, it would cause people who made more money more. People in the top 5% of California with adjusted gross incomes of $400-$500,000 a year, would pay $2800.
Unless they want to go down as the people who led UC off a cliff through a combination of accepting unrealistic right-wing ideology and political cowardice, it is time for the University leadership to stop acting like executives at a financially failing corporation and start acting like stewards of a public trust and, as UC leaders have done in the past, mobilizing the public to force the governor to provide the kind of high quality affordable higher education that he and the state’s other political leaders enjoyed.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Links for Sptember 27
English Academics respond to the Government's plans. They have done so by offering an alternative vision of higher ed.
In a bold bid for the future, Texas may eliminate 1/2 of its undergraduate physics programs.
The recession has made income inequality in California even greater than it was before.
Faculty group releases proposal to change undergrad education at Berkeley.
Protest over Berkeley Republicans' "diversity" Bake Sale.
In case you were curious about what "Occupy Wall Street" looks like. Because you sure won't get anything from the established media. Although the NYT will be happy to tell you why you shouldn't care.
Hey David Brooks, math really does matter!
In a bold bid for the future, Texas may eliminate 1/2 of its undergraduate physics programs.
The recession has made income inequality in California even greater than it was before.
Faculty group releases proposal to change undergrad education at Berkeley.
Protest over Berkeley Republicans' "diversity" Bake Sale.
In case you were curious about what "Occupy Wall Street" looks like. Because you sure won't get anything from the established media. Although the NYT will be happy to tell you why you shouldn't care.
Hey David Brooks, math really does matter!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Links for September 26
More on the Irvine 11 case.
Bob Samuels Reports from Washington.
Bob also comments on the President's "jobs bill."
Brown considering second part of California's Dream Act. There is a lot of pressure over the question of financial aid.
It looks like David Crane's time on the Board of Regents is coming to an end.
But Crane is still continuing his fight to bust Public Employee Unions and people's pension plans.
The New York Times notices that there is a tuition crisis at UC. (h/t to Dan Mitchell)
Live Blogging on Occupy Wall Street.
The NYT condescends to Occupy Wall Street.
And why didn't the NYT notice this?
Looks like "right to work" doesn't solve everything: South hit especially hard in the lesser depression.
Ed Miliband accused of caving on Student Fees in England.
US News & World Report doesn't see any reason to change its rankings despite criticisms.
Bob Samuels Reports from Washington.
Bob also comments on the President's "jobs bill."
Brown considering second part of California's Dream Act. There is a lot of pressure over the question of financial aid.
It looks like David Crane's time on the Board of Regents is coming to an end.
But Crane is still continuing his fight to bust Public Employee Unions and people's pension plans.
The New York Times notices that there is a tuition crisis at UC. (h/t to Dan Mitchell)
Live Blogging on Occupy Wall Street.
The NYT condescends to Occupy Wall Street.
And why didn't the NYT notice this?
Looks like "right to work" doesn't solve everything: South hit especially hard in the lesser depression.
Ed Miliband accused of caving on Student Fees in England.
US News & World Report doesn't see any reason to change its rankings despite criticisms.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Links for September 23
Important developments in the Irvine 11 case and Berkeley protests, Jerry signs the amazon bill, UC Davis is expanding, and nostalgia for shared governance. That and other news and analysis below the fold.
Irvine 11 Convicted. Will face Probation.
Live-blog of Berkeley Day of Action.
Video of Berkeley Day of Action.
Additional Coverage of Berkeley Day of Action.
Jerry Brown signs the compromise between Amazon and the Legislature.
Berkeley Faculty Association Statement in Defense of Public Education.
UC Davis announces plans to increase out of state enrollments dramatically.
Charlie Schwartz has again tried to get the Regents to rethink their budget assumptions.
Dan Simmons remembers Shared Governance.
Bowling Green faculty release evidence that Bowling Green's administration helped write legislation banning unionization after faculty voted to join a union.
Are for-profit colleges targeting military veterans?
Obama Administration reveals how to get wavers from NCLB: You have to do what Arne Duncan wants.
Tax Policy and Growing Inequality: Where did the Social Contract Go?
Elizabeth Warren points out that no one becomes a millionaire on their own.
UK Teachers' Union Chief pushes back at Cameron and Grove for Teacher-bashing.
Have a great weekend.
Irvine 11 Convicted. Will face Probation.
Live-blog of Berkeley Day of Action.
Video of Berkeley Day of Action.
Additional Coverage of Berkeley Day of Action.
Jerry Brown signs the compromise between Amazon and the Legislature.
Berkeley Faculty Association Statement in Defense of Public Education.
UC Davis announces plans to increase out of state enrollments dramatically.
Charlie Schwartz has again tried to get the Regents to rethink their budget assumptions.
Dan Simmons remembers Shared Governance.
Bowling Green faculty release evidence that Bowling Green's administration helped write legislation banning unionization after faculty voted to join a union.
Are for-profit colleges targeting military veterans?
Obama Administration reveals how to get wavers from NCLB: You have to do what Arne Duncan wants.
Tax Policy and Growing Inequality: Where did the Social Contract Go?
Elizabeth Warren points out that no one becomes a millionaire on their own.
UK Teachers' Union Chief pushes back at Cameron and Grove for Teacher-bashing.
Have a great weekend.
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