When is a University not a Business Granting Degrees?

I have noticed in several threads references to some institutions as being business granting fradulent credentials. Somehow I get the impression that a business cannot grant a degree.

I always thought education was a business that granted degrees. A Service sector business if you consider the processes of the educational endeavor ...

A. Input Students.
B. Apply knowlege transfer techniques.
C. Conduct follow-up test to verify knowledge transfer.
D. Confer degree to end process.

Well maybe a manufacturing sector operation since the the Raw Material Input(Student) was transformed by a value adding process. That is, assuming the knowledge is worth something on the open job market.

Of course there are other "business" process...

A. Raise money from Alumni for:
Scholarships
Capital Growth Expansion of facilities like parking garages.
Upgrades to current facilities like Info Systems.
Support of Atheletic programs to meet government requirements.

B. Float commercial paper or bonds to support operations not funded by alumni and tuition.

C.Conduct Employee Appraisals and grant raises.

D. Hire non-faculy staff to run physical facilities.

E. Negotiate and Procure supplies for office systems.

F. Contract out or run cafeteria services.

and so on and so on...

This concept of a University sure is looking like a businees venture to me. Getting out the old comparision of "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck"

The University of Phoenix calls itself a business,since they are "for Profit". As part of the RA accreditation process, the candidate must demonstrate financial solvency.

So when is a university not a business???

Regards,
Dick

 

You can take that to the next level also. Many colleges and universities have business units whose sole purpose is to spin off private ventures based on research work done at that school.

I was recently corresponding with two friends who happen to be professors. They were complaining that they are always being pushed to develop "sponsored (read paid)" research projects with 51% going to the school and 49% going to fund the project.

In my own search to obtain a doctorate, I have been talking with an Australian program that is running like a business (the person I have been talking with's title is CEO). Yet, his office is on the second floor of an engineering building located between two professors that teach full time.

All of these are "public" schools, paid for by state dollars, yet operating very business like.

Also, many of the problems cited in another post on accreditation problems of some southern association programs were financial.

So when IS a school not a business first?



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M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE

 

Good points Mike. Your Austalian experience brings to mind good ole Harvard University. Founded by a chuch minister by the name of Harvard, spun off into an independent institution with a multidude od "educational" related ventures such as Harvard Business Press publishing wing, Harvard Business School seminars wing, Harvard Museums. And of course, all that government and industry sponsored research.

Really now, is Harvard a businees with a degree granting division???

Regards,

Dick