Public/Private Partnerships: A Trojan Horse for Higher Education?

Abstract

Partnering with private industry is presented as a sensible solution to some faculties at institutions of higher education during the current economic downturn. The authors discuss the historic context for increased efficiencies and provide descriptions of how two institutions responded to the prospect of "collaborating" with a corporation. In one case, a partnership forged without faculty consent resulted in dramatic changes in curriculum, class size, course delivery, and instructor authority. In a second case, a proposed partnership, championed by the central administration, was shown to be detrimental to program quality, institutional reputation, and faculty autonomy, and was soundly defeated.