Thursday, November 11, 2021
Sailer has a better idea
A few days ago I was CAUTIOUSLY optimistic about the proposed non-cancel university. Maybe it's just another sting. If not, it still lacks a commitment to avoid tenure, and lacks a 'two-way obligation loop' with its alumni. It should be helping them to stay courageous, and they should in turn be helping to keep the next generation courageous.
Sailer sees the same problem from a different angle.
A big question is how do you avoid having U. of Austin grads blackballed by the rest of academia? For example, if you want to make a career in cultural anthropology, you’d probably be best advised to avoid having a free-thinking university on your resume. Judging from comments by those involved in this start-up, they tend to be focused more on the humanities and social sciences than on pre-professional training of pre-meds and MBAs. That is admirable, but you need some way to attract bright students. I could see making alliances with non-woke firms like Tesla, Palantir, and Coinbase and specializing in majors they need, like Comp Sci. It’s crucial to provide potential applicants with plausible career paths.Smart solution. There's the two-way obligation! But I'm not seeing a recognition of this problem or this solution in the descriptions so far. Community colleges routinely form these loops with local industries who need a specific skill. The industry pays the college to train welders or med techs, and the students have a guaranteed job offer if they perform well. BUT: What industry wants clear thinkers and courageous truth-tellers? None.
Labels: Answered better than asked, skill-estate
¶ 5:08 AM
