COLLEGES AS COMMERCIAL CENTERS: ACADEMIC CAPITALISM

Pekow, Charles (2005) Education or Occupation, COMMUNITY COLLEGE WEEK. 3/14. p.16

Pekow reviews Slaughter and Rhoades ACADEMIC CAPITALISM AND THE NEW ECONOMY. 

Essentially, post secondary schools (colleges and universities) are now thought to be in at least two categories. They are places to sell products and services to students and are center to make profits for businesses.

Thus, academia which has lost tax dollars since the 80’s has to make it on their own. Although Colorado University or Ohio State University has a state name, annually 90% of their revenue comes from private sources.

Any idea worth money is either sold to students or to businesses. The biggest resources for people are the non-traditional students. The market is vast and they are amenable to distance learning.

Schools that attract international students are likely to be able to charge more money and make more profits. Class notes from an excellent arts professor may lead to money making new books and study guides.

Community colleges are excellent venues for workplace development (teaching workers new skills.) Those schools that do not become capitalist enterprises of this new dimension will perish.