Pondering the Humanities as a Priority

Between Innovation and Implosion

A Symposium on Humanities and the University

Nelly P. Stromquist, Author-Editor

Education, UMCP

Nelly P. Stromquist, UMCP

March 1, 2011– In 1974, an influential study of American universities (Cohen and March, Leadership and Ambiguity) described them as organized anarchies, characterized by inconsistent and ill-defined goals, unclear technology, and unstable participation. Today, the situation is different. For better or worse, strategic plans now guide and even rule institutional decision-making at all levels. One of the new priorities is science and technology (S&T). Yes, as did the 20^th century, the 21^st century will give us discoveries that will improve our lives, making it possible to perform heart operations that would have been science fiction a few decades ago, enabling us to cook meals in seconds, and even to eat strawberries in February!

Noteworthy People- March 2011

NOTEWORTHY PEOPLE

March 2011

Katherine G. Abraham

Katherine G. Abraham, Council of Economic Advisors

President Obama has nominated Prof. Abraham to serve on the council of Economic Advisors. Senate confirmation is required. Prof. Abraham is with the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at UMCP. Her Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard 1982, was on “Vacancies, Unemployment and Wage Growth.” The subject of unemployment duration is among her published papers. Abraham: “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as a member of the President’s economic team. Jobs obviously will be front and center on the agenda of the Council of Economic Advisers over the next few years, and I hope that my background in labor economics and economic statistics will enable me to contribute in a positive way to ongoing discussions about jobs policy.”

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Show Me the Money… Maybe.

Written and compiled by Bill Hanna, Editor

From Chancellor Kirwan

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A February statement by Chancellor Kirwan on budget matters: “As we reach the midpoint of the 2011 legislative session, I want to once again thank members of the University System of Maryland (USM) community. You-our faculty, staff, and administrators-continue to display remarkable dedication and professionalism, even under the difficult and demanding fiscal conditions we face. Our institutions, our state, and the students we serve reap tremendous benefits from your efforts. While ongoing economic and budgetary struggles may impede our progress, there is no doubt that our institutions continue to advance in their impact on the quality of life in Maryland. Even as the nation’s and state’s budget picture remains disappointing, Governor Martin O’Malley once again went to great lengths to spare higher education from a disproportionate share of cuts in his FY 2012 budget proposal. The Governor’s budget essentially ‘flat funds’ the USM, with a slight increase in funding provided to ‘buy back’ two percent of a five percent tuition increase for in-state undergraduates.”

Rank and File

MORE RATINGS

The Faculty Voice staff and Board members don’t take ratings very seriously. First, the rating depends on the variables, which are often debatable. And second, there’s often a lag time of many years before the rating adjusts to the reality. However, a rating is like a baseball box score: it has some short-term interest and soon is lost in the recesses of one’s memory. -BH

That said, here are three recent assessments: