Anne Silva Academic Libraries Assignment One Review of Trends
While reviewing the last six months of The Chronicle of Higher Education, I noticed four reoccurring trends within higher education that affect academic libraries and librarians in one way or another. The four trends are: 1. Financial concerns involving the federal and state government, economic inequality in higher education, and tuition rates. 2.Tenure, sabbatical, and proof of productivity. 3.Research and scholarship, including ethical issues, open access and copyright. 4. Open Enrollment and Education On February 5th, 2012, an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an article entitled “Obama Aims to Make Colleges Cut Costs; Higher-education lobbyists and leaders fret over what, exactly, that means.” This article outlines the issues and tactics of the federal government to combat rising tuition costs and educational budget cuts raised in the State of the Union Address. While Obama’s comments brought out an array of negative criticism, particularly from independent college presidents, Obama has promised to include higher education costs in the upcoming budget battle and to give it light in his bid for reelection. The recent budget cuts and increased tuition as a result
adversely affects library budget, and, because students are paying more for school, they may be even more reliant on library resources and programs. “The Higher Education Battle the White House should be Waging”, ran on September 25th, 2011 also discusses things the president has said and promised to do regarding higher education. This trend seems to be reoccurring and tends to change with the economy. The January 22, 2012 issue ran an article called “States Push Even Further to Cut Spending on Colleges”. While most of the economic attention has been garnered at the federal level, a reduce in state tax revenue has caused less financing to higher education on behalf of the state, causing tuition increases. The idea of less government investment should mean less government control was also raised. This may cause libraries to participate more and rely more heavily on interlibrary loans, consortiums, and open access services to help curb their inevitable budget cuts. On November 6th, 2011, The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an article entitled “No Tuition? No Problem”, about the tuition-free University of the People. The university offers online college classes for free, except for a minimal processing fee. It discusses what equal education access would mean to the United States and what lessons can be gleamed from the tuition-fee model used by the University for the People. More opportunities for free online learning mean more free resources for libraries, and libraries, at some point, may have a hand in administrating or providing services for these programs. An opinion piece in the September 25th 2011 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses that balancing budgets at the expense of low income students can hurt selective colleges and the country as a whole. While many elite universities
participate in “need blind” admissions practices, where the best and brightest are admitted without consideration of wealth and any student admitted who needs aid receives it, the practice is in danger because of shrinking budgets. The article discusses that the vast majority of those at elite universities are among the wealthiest, and suggests that incentives be given to universities, especially regarding ranking, for socioeconomic diversity. While Academic Libraries don’t have that much influence in the admissions process, they can make sure that the socio-economic divide doesn’t continue among the currently attending students, by providing the free intellectual means for students to be successful in their studies. Several other pieces in the September 25th, 2011 issue discuss this same topic. Faculty, Tenure, and Culture Because of recent budget cuts, state and other officials have been looking at tenure, productivity, and sabbatical more closely. An August 21st, 2011 article called “Academics Face Questions About Their Pay and Their Product” discusses how some states are pushing for more quantitative measures to rate productivity, and how some states feel that some professors don’t spend enough time or energy on teaching or make it a high enough priority, hurting students in the long run. The legislation pertaining to these issues tends to come mostly from republican governors. For instance, Iowa’s governor signed a bill limiting a public institution’s professors on sabbatical to no more than three percent at a given time. The September 13th,2011 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a piece entitled “Florida May Be Next Battleground Over Faculty Productivity”, which discusses the accountability-based funding method and discusses a proposed overhaul of Florida’s
higher education system to measure professor productivity and to encourage teaching over research. The library may be scrutinized for their level of productivity, and, if more time is taken away from research, faculty may rely on the library more heavily for research help. Because many library positions are tenure track, the discussions of tenure and sabbatical may also affect library employees. Research and Scholarship, and Fair Use “Research Goes Philosophical”, featured in the January 29th, 2011 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses how intellectual property and copyright go beyond that of easily argued law and delve into the realm of philosophy, where it’s harder to protect artists and authors while upholding intellectual freedom. While copyright issues and ownership have been problems for a long time, the web has created a whole new slew of issues. Libraries are caught in the middle, fair use, copyright, plagiarism, and open access permeate everything they do, and also helps determine the cost of providing certain bodies of information. Another instance of the difficulty of turning theory into law is mentioned in the January 22nd,2012 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education in a piece titled “ Who Gets to See Published Research? Proponents of a Proposed Bill Say it Will Work Against the Open Exchange of Ideas”. It questions whether research funded by taxpayer dollars should be freely accessible to tax payers. The bill proposes to limit access to research done by private entities, even if the research is federally funded, unless permission is given to open access. Not only does this affect library users, but it can greatly impact the budget of the library.
Because of all the controversy about copyright, scholars and librarians are often confused about, or scared of, fair use. The fair use clause enables people to use copyrighted items for noncommercial use when it’s related to research, education, or scholarship. “Common Sense of the Fair-Use Doctrine” in the August 21, 2011 issue provides examples of and tips for using the fair use doctrine. One of the most interesting articles I came across in the Chronicle of Higher Education ran in the September 2011 issue. “Citation By Citation, New Maps Chart Hot Research and Scholarship’s Hidden Terrain” discusses the work of several scientists and a psychiatrist, who use algorithms and citations to determine the Eigenfactor Score, a scoring system for journals based no only the number of citations, but the level of impact of the citer. They then took it one step further, and developed a system visually map citations, giving the user a way to look at how information is produced and used, and what research has been done, showing interdisciplinary connections that might not otherwise be evident. They plan to make this service available for free to the public, on a platform that can run on a PC. While it doesn’t necessarily narrow down research, it can help give a clearer picture of where to start, and previously unidentified places to look. This can affect libraries because giving patrons the ability to see citations and how their connected can help them find the information they want or need. This can also be beneficial to libraries, because if the same idea is transformed to work for the catalog within the library, it can show what’s being used and how. Open Enrollment MIT recently made headlines when it started a program allowing anyone to enroll in select college classes free of charge for a certificate. “MIT Mints a Valuable New Form
of Academic Currency” in the January 22nd,2012 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses the benefits and logistics of such a program. Online learning, without a credential to back up the student, has very little meaning. By adding a credential from MITx, the open-education initiative, self-driven online education has more meaning. Because the credentials are new, it’s impossible to tell what weight they will hold, but, MITx and its open enrollment consortia may prove to be the future of online education. Libraries play a vital role in supporting learning and access, and, while it’s hard to see where libraries fit into this equation so far, it’s likely that there will be a demand for some sort of library services from these students in the future. The question of obligation is yet to be answered. Is MIT or the offering school obligated to provide reference services, or, because the programs are free, are students obligated to find their own help and support? Either way these classes are a great reference tool, and many of them may help enhance librarians’ education. The January 8th, 2012 issue ran an article entitled “’Badges’ Earned Online Pose Challenge to Traditional College Diplomas” discusses the use of badges in openeducation to signify mastery or completion of skills or classes. Because of the nature of the fast-paced, skills based job market, and the need to correctly and effectively convey and understand candidates skills make these badges easier to understand, and sometimes, preferred. Even some colleges are considering using “badges” in order to help signify student skills, and to recognize “soft” skills not often conveyed through a diploma. While “badges” still don’t have the respect that a degree caries, they are gaining traction because we now life in a world where anyone can learn anything. It’s starting the
discussion about who gets do certify, in what and when, and if traditional higher education is the best fit for all students and all employers. The academic landscape is broad, and all of the trends can, in some shape or form, affect academic libraries. Libraries serve a vital role in academic communities, and as those communities struggle, grow, and change, so does the libraries identity, function, and purpose. By looking at the major trends in Academe and considering their possible affect on academic libraries, it provides and opportunity to look ahead to and prepare for the future.
Reference List (February 5, 2012 Sunday ). Obama Aims to Make Colleges Cut Costs; Higher-education lobbyists and leaders fret over what, exactly, that means. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 25, 2011 Sunday ). The Higher-Education Battle the White House Should Be Waging. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 6, 2011 Sunday ). No Tuition? No Problem.. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (January 22, 2012 Sunday ). States Push Even Further to Cut Spending on Colleges. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic September 25, 2011 Sunday ). We Cut Student Aid at Our Own Peril. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 25, 2011 Sunday ). Our Economically Polarized College System: Separate and Unequal. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (August 21, 2011 Sunday ). Hunkering Down, Colleges Rethink Financial Strategies. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (August 28, 2011 Sunday ). Note to Legislators: Don't Eat Your Seed Corn. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 14, 2011 Wednesday ). College Spending Trends Show Students Bearing a Growing Share of the Costs. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 13, 2011 Sunday ). Colleges Fear Tough Budget News From Congressional Supercommittee. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 27, 2011 Sunday ). Debt Protesters Denounce Colleges for Broken Promises. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic
(August 21, 2011 Sunday ). Academics Face Questions About Their Pay and Their Product. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 13, 2011 Tuesday ). Florida May Be Next Battleground Over Faculty Productivity. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 11, 2011 Sunday ). Fewer Paths for Faculty; With limited opportunities to move, many senior professors feel stuck. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (October 2, 2011 Sunday ). A Plea for Research on Tenure Decisions. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (January 29, 2012 Sunday ). Copyright Goes Philosophical. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (August 21, 2011 Sunday ). The Common Sense of the Fair-Use Doctrine. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (December 3, 2011 Saturday ). Why Bother With Details in Papers' Citations?. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (September 11, 2011 Sunday ). Citation by Citation, New Maps Chart Hot Research and Scholarship's Hidden Terrain. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (January 22, 2012 Sunday ). MIT Mints a Valuable New Form of Academic Currency. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (January 8, 2012 Sunday ). 'Badges' Earned Online Pose Challenge to Traditional College Diplomas. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (January 1, 2012 Sunday ). MIT Will Offer Certificates to Outside Students in Online Courses. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 13, 2011 Sunday ). In the 21st-Century University, Let's Ban (Paper) Books. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 6, 2011 Sunday ). Why I No Longer Teach Online. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (November 6, 2011 Sunday ). How Technology Can Improve Online Learning-and Learning in General. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic
(October 23, 2011 Sunday ). The New Technology Campus: Handicapping the Contenders. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (October 23, 2011 Sunday ). Mobile Apps, Blackboard's New Openness, and 'Netiquette' Are Topics at Educause. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic (August 26, 2011 Friday ). Collaborative Learning for the Digital Age. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.uncg.edu/hottopics/lnacademic