Independent Scholar Trend

Alan, the traditional model for university, college governance evolved in the Middle Ages.  It was based on the craft guild model.  This survived until the advent of the factory model and profit orientation of higher education today.  Both destroy the professional autonomy and respect that the traditional guild model fostered.

 I am teaching an online doctoral course for XYZ-U out of its ABC, DE campus.  Here is the next step in destroying the guild, collegial governance model.  XYZ-U has outsourced management of its EDD program to a management consulting group in EFG, HI! 

The office staff there - who as a rule have no doctoral degrees themselves - call the shots for the faculty.  It is a misnomer to call it faculty.  Rather it is a collection of throwaway widgets, and you better know your place if you want them to throw a few scraps from the table your way.

Yes, we are fast becoming Daniel Pink's Free Agent Nation; the Generation Y members are picking up on this.  Those of us who grew up on and loved the old ways of the old days cannot reverse this toxic trend.  Add to it the profit motive that debases standards for retention to milk profits, and you are watching the end of higher education as it evolved during the Middle Ages. 

I suspect the personal Socrates/Plato/Aristotle model, the independent scholar, is waiting in the wings to provide a model for those of us who still love learning.  Paul