Culture, Intricacies, and Obsessions in Academia : Why Colleges and Universities are Struggling to Deliver the Goods

Unfortunate obsessions dominate the culture of colleges and universities and shortchange students and everyone else. Professors have become an obstacle to learning. They are not interested in or rewarded for teaching. They scramble to survive in a surreal world of nonsense scholarship and obscure publication. They conduct meaningless research and treat teaching with disdain. Learning takes place because students make it happen in spite of the foolishness that surrounds them. Professors don’t explain, listen, or give feedback. Many don’t speak understandable English. This book throws open the door of the faculty lounge and tells the dramatic and even embarrassing story. It recommends major changes in the professoriate to restore confidence in higher education.