SOC 112 Final 8 Flashcards
What is the academic revolution in universities?
Rise of dominance in research universities in the twentieth century. Major universities have been characterized b y narrowly specialized curricula and a heavy research agenda, and faculty is made up on scholars with PhD’s and peer-reviewed publications.
What happens to universities to who follow the model of research?
They are seen as inferior, and now institutions are intense in competition to increase their research output, attract outstanding faculty, and raise their international profile.
What are criticisms of the academic revolution?
- Tenured (and tenure-track) professors earn most of the money and benefits, while they teach less than non-tenured staff.
- Tuition fees are steadily rising as gov’t’s reduce funding as universities shift priorities away from teaching to research.
- Funding has shifted toward high status medical, scientific and business programs. Less emphasis on humanities, social sciences, and fine arts.
- Credential inflation
What is credential inflation?
New degrees are being created and higher degrees are now being demanded in some professions. Forcing students to prolong their education and take on more debt.
What are other issues in higher education?
- Research funding
- Quality and accountability
- McDonaldization
- Academic Integrity
Why is research funding an issue?
The federal gov’t, in keeping with the ‘innovation agenda’, has cut transfers to post-secondary education and made universities more reliant on research funding from various sources. This has led to an emphasis on research over teaching, and a bias toward applied research.
What is McDonaldization of higher education?
Universities are expected to function in ever more efficient ways, with a high degree of predictability and standardization. Students are understood as customers who “consume” education just like any other commodity.
What types of academic integrity are an issue in higher education?
Cheating on exams, violations of copyright legislation, ghost writing, fabrication of data are all ongoing problems within higher education.
