Traveling Norseman: Lehi Dowell

https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/role-adjuncts-professoriate

As we continue along under the current administration we will see shrinking operational budgets and increasing financial aid needs.  The article poignantly speaks about these issues such as with traditional “brick and mortar” institutions being challenged by “for-profit” companies who offer nontraditional scheduling and modality of instruction.  The current university state must adapt or risk being pushed out of the market.  One thing that is constant across the higher education system is the use of adjunct faculty to reduce tenured expenditures.  This is seen largely in community colleges and professional degree programs.

There was research in 2006 that showed community colleges with heavy reliance on part-time faculty had the lowest graduation rates.  This brought up the concern of:  how are the adjunct professors evaluated; are they able to obtain professional development; and, are they able to join a faculty union?  Obviously another major concern is how this mode of education is affecting the students.  Community colleges and universities that employ adjunct professors may be getting a better deal with their deduction in labor expenditures, but, the overall health of the institution may be suffering.

Thanks!

Cheers, Lehi

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/what-will-universities-look-like-in-2030-future-perfect#survey-answer

The article I read today really had me thinking about the future of the university and our higher education system in general.  It started out talking about how a few years ago the media compared “the imminent future of 2015” as depicted in Back To The Future Part II and the actual advancements at the time.  One major thing that was omitted was the invention of the internet or better known as the world wide web.  What if as we discuss this topic now we miss such a critical component of the future university?!?  Can we expand our minds and be creative enough to think that far outside the box?

The article states that we might not have anyone to teach because the jobs we are preparing students for currently, might be done by robotics.  It also speaks about how most classes will be taught online.  Obviously, those requiring labs such as in the sciences or medical field will still have to have on campus curriculum.  The current rage is “flipping the classroom” in which students lead the discussion and the teacher takes on more of an advisory role.  Will this reverse in 2030 as the pedagogical pendulum swings back to a more autocratic institution?  Knowledge is advancing at such a rapid pace it is questionable to think that professors will have the base to educate students without themselves first going back to school.  Finally, problem focused research and interdisciplinary collaborations must happen because the world is becoming more and more interconnected.

I really enjoyed reading these viewpoints, although some of them were a little too doomsday for my taste.  I thought the “imagery” of the pendulum swinging back and forth helped me put things into perspective.

Thanks!

Cheers, Lehi

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/glimpse-future-oscars-innovation-higher-education/

An article I recently read was on the topic of innovation in the classroom in higher education.  I primarily focused on the discussion regarding “flipped classrooms” because this was a recent experience in one of my own seminars here at VT.  I had never heard of the term before so I was interested to find out why we were doing it.  It is a new model in higher education in which the students spend time discussing or presenting topic ideas and the professor acts more as a facilitator than an educator.

Often times in a seminar students are “spoken” at and not actively involved in the information that is presented.   The flipped classroom model allows the students to process a complex problem or subject matter and then teach it back to their colleagues in a language that is interesting and one they understand.

I personally enjoyed my own flipped classroom experience so I’m happy to see this is an education model that is being explored in a more rigorous manner across the system as a whole.

Thanks!

Cheers, Lehi

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517715001041

I read a journal article titled “Impact factors: Influencing careers, creativity and academic freedom” by Dallen Timothy in Tourism Management from 2015.  The essay details strategies one must employ when trying to obtain tenure at a university.  When evaluating the tenure process it all comes back to one key indicator:  the impact factor of journals.  When professors are trying to get tenure they must publish in “high impact” journals which are set by their governing board.  The unfortunate challenge of Open Access journals is that they are not on these “lists”.  In order to become more widely used in academia OA journals first have to become relevant to the governing boards.  Literally, what counts is what is counted.

The author states it best when he says:  “My comments reflect concerns regarding impact factors as inhibitors of younger-career academics, limiters of academic freedom, and suppressors of creativity and innovation.”  He supports the idea that the more freedom to publish where one desires will encourage a new generation of critical thinkers.  We can’t get outside the box when the box is made of steel.

Thanks!

Cheers, Lehi

http://abcnews.go.com/US/dartmouth-college-professors-investigation-alleged-sexual-misconduct/story?id=50837417

Having just started my career at a top research institution I was shocked to read the article that was published last month via ABC News.  The article revolves around three research professors at Dartmouth University who are under criminal investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct.  As a new student I had to undergo official IRB certification as part of my onboarding before I could progress onto my TA position or implement research sponsored by the institution.  Considering this particular research focused on studies of sexual desire and attractiveness I would have thought that a high level of scrutiny had been applied by the IRB and local university itself throughout all phases of the research.  Shame on them for not doing so.

Other articles speak about the situation in which the three professors created a hostile academic environment involving excessive drinking, favoritism, and inappropriate behavior were the norm.  In total around 15 students have filed official complaints and the university is complying with law enforcement for a full investigation.

Innocent until proven guilty, however, in my opinion reputation is will also be lost regardless of the litigation outcome.

Thanks!

Cheers, Lehi