Problematic premises; Promising possibilities: A (re)defining moment Gary Rhoades General Secretary American Association of University Professors Gary Rhoades General Secretary American Association of University Professors

Premises underlying public funding of the academy  New realities & dawning of era of constraint? or old realities & decline of era in collapse?  We can’t do better, so must lock ourselves in? or we can’t do worse, so should say no deal? (& we can’t do much more with much less)  The key to recovery is stimulating demand? or the key lies in also building capacity, and supporting supply? (investing in producers’ intellectual capital, not just in consumers’ human capital)

Promising possibilities  Loan forgiveness programs to new faculty and professionals who work in institutions that serve substantial proportions of first generation students and students from underrepresented populations.  Shifting on the margins a proportion of federal research monies to converting postdoc to tenure-track positions, and to establishing new track positions in institutions that serve substantial proportions of first generation and underrepresented students.  Formulas for state support that provide a marginal incentive for serving first generation and underrepresented students, and for masters programs in other than those that charge differential tuition.

Promising possibilities-2  Marginal social responsibility contribution increments in institutional retirement contributions for faculty members, academic professionals, and administrators who can demonstrate according to locally determined criteria, involvement in activities enhancing local/state/regional communities.  Bail out reinvestment funds, channeling a portion of profits of companies that have received government bailout monies back into public infrastructure investments, in not-for-profit higher education.

Our choice: a replication of the past, or a (re)defining moment

Thank you …