Category Archives: academic freedom

Why we need to think about PhDs & the job pseudo-market

Posted on July 13, 2009 by jbj

This article about Fort Hays State University’s decision to outsource gen ed courses is frustrating an harbinger of doom.  According to the reporter, “the school will accept credits from a private company that runs introductory courses in subjects such as … Continue reading →

Posted in AAUP, academe, academic freedom, higher education, things that should stop | Comments Off on Why we need to think about PhDs & the job pseudo-market

On rules

Posted on April 7, 2009 by jbj

“Why Rules Matter,” Gary A. Olson’s “First Person” essay in the Chronicle this morning, surveys the comical sense of “rules for thee but none for me” that operates all too often on college campuses.  I’ll never forget standing in the … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, academic freedom, higher education | 1 Comment

Stanley Fish is irritating, and not in a good way

Posted on February 16, 2009 by jbj

Today’s Stanley Fish column about academic freedom & fantasies of academic exceptionalism offers a good example of his strengths and his considerable weaknesses as a columnist. For example, I think this is both true and too-infrequently said: But this is … Continue reading →

Posted in academic freedom, education, first amendment, higher education, Victorian literature | 3 Comments