"Whither the University?" Oct. 21 (W) at 3:30pm

[Daniel Lake]

*The Institute for Ethics in Public Life invites you to join us for
"Whither the University," at 3:30pm on Wednesday, Oct. 21 (in person or on
Zoom).*


Higher education in the United States is being described as in a "crisis
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.prosperaresearch.org/articles/higher-education-crisis&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw24jTGATBmkN44CnF2cC3EM>".
The federal government is cutting funding for higher education in general
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Congress-Moves-Slash-Funding-Budget-Showdown.aspx&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw3xmLH6Qvr74helURHypQjL>,
and cancelling grants that don't align with its political priorities
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-slashed-billions-for-education-in-2025-see-our-list-of-affected-grants/2026/01&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw2Ex428tywIx1glBwKQlWir>.
State
governments are taking steps to *abolish or limit tenure and faculty
academic freedom*
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.chronicle.com/article/states-are-once-again-taking-aim-at-tenure-this-time-might-be-different&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw1WfzE441Oa6vST6Y5KcMAE>
 and *reduce or eliminate shared governance*
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2026/04/30/new-state-laws-land-blows-against-shared-governance-tenure&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw3YYkynypRFr697z9yT3d5P>.
Public confidence in institutions of higher education has collapsed in the
last decade, from 57% to 38% according to Gallup
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.the74million.org/article/the-massive-collapse-in-college-confidence-isnt-getting-any-better/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw2k14fppBHtJPbD4POclICM>.
70% of Americans surveyed by Pew think higher education is going in the
wrong direction
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/15/growing-share-of-americans-say-the-us-higher-education-system-is-headed-in-the-wrong-direction/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw1WFLopSrjmO2DLT8D_5UUa>,
and this has gone up 10 points since 2020.


What is going on? Some question whether there is even a crisis, since even
as public confidence has fallen enrollment data indicates that Americans
still value higher education
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/crisis-us-higher-education-what-crisis&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw3cUfaTYLW9MnWU0DD1sil->.
At the same time, the cuts to funding and attacks on tenure and shared
governance as well as public concern over the high cost of higher education
and whether degrees still have value are real. So what should we do in
response? Do we need to do a better job of informing the public about what
we do, coupled with reforms where they are warranted
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/trump-columbia-universities/682012/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw0i7AiyeajUVmwLIblVwwAH>?
Is the real issue one of faculty decline that will require sustained
investment to address
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2026/04/08/the_real_crisis_in_higher_education_isnt_just_ideology-_its_faculty_decline_1175528.html&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw2E-cRm7gWHUZfU7d1HjuGT>?
Or is something else at work, requiring more fundamental changes in higher
education?


Please join us in person in the Thomas Moran Seminar Room of the Institute
for Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233) or on Zoom (see below).


Topic: Whither the University?

Time: Oct 21, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)


Join Zoom Meeting
https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/88992533100
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/88992533100&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1792598003879408&usg=AOvVaw0YFBH23Y7-N9lCM7PuyN2r>


*Upcoming events are posted on the Institute's public calendar here
<https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Y19sa245c3MxcjdscjExdmM0ZzNtMDlyaDUyb0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t>.*


-- 

*Daniel Lake*

(pronouns: he/him/his)

Professor of Political Science

Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life

Hawkins 149A

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5833 <(518)%5645833>

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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