I just retired from academia after 30 years. I cannot fathom a more cutthroat business. The politics are unreal.

The worst part is - nobody wants to teach, nor are they rewarded for good teaching. To get tenure, it's about research dollars. I had a post doc who had to get GRANTS TO TEACH!! He got sideways with a couple of professors and was being blackballed. Didn't matter that his students LOVED HIM, he taught an amazing class load (including internet classes) and he loved teaching. No research = no tenure. We hired adjuncts to teach most undergrad classes. What a waste of money. Tenured professors teach an undergrad class? Surely you jest!!!

And we thought Universities were for educating our young adults????

Sorry, I just feel very strongly about this. When I hear about budget cuts and the University's whining, I just cannot get on board. If they made their faculty WORK for a living, quit hiring adjuncts, maybe the bottom line would be better. Instead, the staff continue to get cut & the best ones leave. I only stayed because I had golden handcuffs - just a few years to full retirement.

Most public University budgets run on grants, not state funds. When you're owned by an outside entity, you'll dance to their tune.