January 23, 2013 Blog: Have You Ever Met the People You Will Be Leading?

It's been another week where several higher education leaders have begged for real change in higher education.  New Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels, barely had warmed his lovely Mahogany desk chair (I assume) when he issued his missive to faculty and staff.  Now, a British higher education leader is even calling for British schools to use an American model, even though many of us in the United States aren't convinced there is a good American model.

Since many of these idealistic leaders come from the private sector, I doubt they even have a clue about the mass of resistance they may face.  To help these folks, I adapt the best Steely Dan song ever, "My Old School," (lyrics here) for a cautionary tale.

My Old School

I remember the flurry of cheers and high fives

When I stood for my investiture.

It was September when the faculty senate was quite surprised

To find my vision was set, that I was damn sure.

I was meeting with the board upstairs

When I heard about the campus fears.

I said, "Oh no, another UVa won’t do now.”

I never thought the staff could be so cruel

And I'm never going to change my old school.

Protestors standing outside my door,

Soon they're gonna post diatribes in a blog.

I can't stand us continuing to do what we did before,

Moving like cars in an overwhelming fog.

I hear the reasons that I can’t quite understand.

I'm gonna have to resort to sleight of hand.

I scream, "Oh no, the status quo won't do."

I never thought the staff could be so cruel

And I'm never going to change my old school.

Land-grants crumble into ruinous state:

That'll be the day my battle will end.

Tried to warn you about being out of date,

But I can't seem to get to you through common sense.

I hear the reasons that I can’t quite understand.

I'm gonna have to resort to sleight of hand.

I say, "Oh no, the status quo won't do"

I never thought the staff could be so cruel

And I'm never going to change my old school.