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I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what colleges’ duty or responsibility is in a global pandemic that has killed over 116,000 people in the United States. 1/n
This is partly a question about why colleges say they exist and the people or communities they intend to serve. Both of which will influence re-opening plans for the fall. 2/n
I’ve closely read re-opening statements, committees, and plans. Most of them focus more on process than on rationale—the what and how of re-opening more than the why.
The why question, it seems to me, is more difficult but just as important—if not more so. 3/n
The why question, it seems to me, is more difficult but just as important—if not more so. 3/n
Answering the why questions seems harder for many leaders.
A few presidents have shown their hands and provided rationales for opening. Mitch Daniels unambiguously stated that their re-opening plan is focused on serving students.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-have-a-responsibility-to-open-purdue-university-this-fall/2020/05/25/da3b615c-9c62-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html 4/n
A few presidents have shown their hands and provided rationales for opening. Mitch Daniels unambiguously stated that their re-opening plan is focused on serving students.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-have-a-responsibility-to-open-purdue-university-this-fall/2020/05/25/da3b615c-9c62-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html 4/n
Daniels said students—and he seems to mean traditional students—are less likely to die and they want to come back to campus.
So, the university’s responsibility is to oblige. To not serve students if they are less likely to get seriously ill would be a breach of duty. 5/n
So, the university’s responsibility is to oblige. To not serve students if they are less likely to get seriously ill would be a breach of duty. 5/n
Notre Dame’s John Jenkins also focused on students and their future contributions. He suggested that failing to bring students back deprives future generations of leadership and science.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/opinion/notre-dame-university-coronavirus.html 6/n
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/opinion/notre-dame-university-coronavirus.html 6/n
Jenkins argued that educating young people is the moral thing to do and worth the risk.
Even while acknowledging the only way to truly prioritize health and safety is waiting to open until there is a vaccine. 7/n
Even while acknowledging the only way to truly prioritize health and safety is waiting to open until there is a vaccine. 7/n
Surveys of presidents have highlighted worries about hitting enrollment targets or managing revenue losses.
There is an unmistakable sense that they see their duty mainly in institutional terms, though this may have largely been a function of survey design. 8/n
There is an unmistakable sense that they see their duty mainly in institutional terms, though this may have largely been a function of survey design. 8/n
When they're not missing altogether, I find many of the rationales I’ve so far seen severely lacking.
They’re severely lacking for obvious reasons, like their frequent silence on or disregard for the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students who aren't 18-25. 9/n
They’re severely lacking for obvious reasons, like their frequent silence on or disregard for the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students who aren't 18-25. 9/n
The disregard for people working on and near campuses means colleges aren’t very different from an Amazon warehouse or meat packing plant.
The expectation is that workers must show up in the interests of the organization and consumer. 10/n
The expectation is that workers must show up in the interests of the organization and consumer. 10/n
The rationales I've seen are severely lacking for other reasons, too.
First, they show little concern for slowing or stopping the spread of covid. In fact, they seem to be assuming it will spread and hoping they can contain it. 11/n
First, they show little concern for slowing or stopping the spread of covid. In fact, they seem to be assuming it will spread and hoping they can contain it. 11/n
Second, because they prioritize institutional needs and student demands, and because they show little concern for fighting covid broadly, they demonstrate an utter disregard for serving the public good.
Responsibility to the public good has appeared nowhere. 12/n
Responsibility to the public good has appeared nowhere. 12/n
I can’t recall seeing a single leader saying that what the public needs right now is to live free of a deadly virus, and the best thing we can do in that effort is keep people off campus.
It seems to me that should be part of a college's responsibility in a pandemic. 13/n
It seems to me that should be part of a college's responsibility in a pandemic. 13/n
Third, the rationales I've seen don't seriously contend with the differential effects of covid. How racism means that people of color are more exposed and less protected.
When a leader says it's worth the risk, who is bearing the burden of that risk-taking? 14/n
When a leader says it's worth the risk, who is bearing the burden of that risk-taking? 14/n
The final reason the rationales I’ve seen are lacking is that they seem to have a strained relationship with truth and science. The important exception is @michaelsorrell's article calling out colleges for prioritizing finances and reputation. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/colleges-that-reopen-are-making-a-big-mistake/611485/
Colleges are supposed to pursue truth & encourage others to do the same. We know truth is under assault.
For leaders to sidestep the realities of student life & project such confidence in the face of mounting evidence their plans won't work is a major issue. 16/n
For leaders to sidestep the realities of student life & project such confidence in the face of mounting evidence their plans won't work is a major issue. 16/n
What I'd like to see is more leaders providing a forthright explanation for their plans. I want to know the why and the how.
I want their rationales to not center traditional-aged students, but the many groups that make college happen. 17/n
I want their rationales to not center traditional-aged students, but the many groups that make college happen. 17/n
I'd like to see leaders show they are thinking about their responsibility to the public good, which means how their plans stop or slow the spread of covid.
I'd like leaders to consider equity as they make and explain their plans. Who will get seriously sick and die? 18/n
I'd like leaders to consider equity as they make and explain their plans. Who will get seriously sick and die? 18/n
Finally, I'd like leaders to stop ignoring science and truth. There are delusional and fantastical assumptions baked into many of the plans I've seen.
It does a disservice to higher education to not face hard truths and encourage others to do the same. 19/n
It does a disservice to higher education to not face hard truths and encourage others to do the same. 19/n
Someone will surely say that institutions and leaders are in a tough spot. They are fighting for survival. I get it. This would be enormously easier if colleges could expect help from the federal government. They should be more vocally pushing for this relief. 20/n
At the end of the day, I'm an advocate for higher ed. I'm not seeking to blow it all up.
But I'm having a really hard time advocating in the midst of all the self-interest and smoke and mirrors. It's time for transparency, truth, and equity for the public good. {end}
But I'm having a really hard time advocating in the midst of all the self-interest and smoke and mirrors. It's time for transparency, truth, and equity for the public good. {end}
