Jobs’ Focus Erodes Higher Ed’s Greater Purpose (Opinion)

Of interest at the beginning of this new academic year at UND is what we in the public have been told the “higher education stakeholders” have in store for higher education.

Surprises may abound. We bystanders must only wait and see.

Although membership in this august body of “stakeholders” seems poorly defined, it appears to encompass the political, business and media communities, as well as the State Board of Higher Education. Excluded appear to be the public, as well as higher education students, faculty and staff.

Driving what the “stakeholders” have in store for higher education seems to be “economic development.” Although an ill-defined notion, at least to us not privy to this groupthink, economic development apparently is to be pursued to the exclusion of all else. Thus it is the state board has long declared “economic development” to be the objective of higher education in North Dakota.