What Will It Take To "Make Penn State Great Again" Academically?

[LionsAndBears]

I regularly see people discussing our academic decline. So, what will it take to put the shine back on that Diploma?

Personally, I'd like to see PSU focus their resources on programs that produce fruit in the real world. Focus on Business, Medicine, Law, Science, Mathematics, Education, Engineering and such. Focusing our resources on fewer programs would raise the level of development in those programs and would cut wasteful spending.

Thoughts?

 

[MacNit]

I regularly see people discussing our academic decline. So, what will it take to put the shine back on that Diploma?

Personally, I'd like to see PSU focus their resources on programs that produce fruit in the real world. Focus on Business, Medicine, Law, Science, Mathematics, Education, Engineering and such. Focusing our resources on fewer programs would raise the level of development in those programs and would cut wasteful spending.

Thoughts?

Cut costs, raise standards, and (as yousuggested) focus on ROI for student.

 

[IBeBlockin]

Ah never mind

 

[Nitt1300]

leadership

in other words, it won't happen

 

[GrimReaper]

leadership

in other words, it won't happen

In that vein, focus on academics:

Dr. Bendapudi's top goals over the next five years:

• Enhance student success
• Grow interdisciplinary research excellence
• Increase land-grant impact
• Foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Transform Penn State’s internal operations

Ahem!

 

[Psumatt85]

I regularly see people discussing our academic decline. So, what will it take to put the shine back on that Diploma?

Personally, I'd like to see PSU focus their resources on programs that produce fruit in the real world. Focus on Business, Medicine, Law, Science, Mathematics, Education, Engineering and such. Focusing our resources on fewer programs would raise the level of development in those programs and would cut wasteful spending.

Thoughts?

Raise tuition……they are ahead of us

 

[Nitt1300]

In that vein, focus on academics:

Dr. Bendapudi's top goals over the next five years:

• Enhance student success
• Grow interdisciplinary research excellence
• Increase land-grant impact
• Foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Transform Penn State’s internal operations

Ahem!

don't you love bureaucratspeak?

 

[Midnighter]

I regularly see people discussing our academic decline. So, what will it take to put the shine back on that Diploma?

Personally, I'd like to see PSU focus their resources on programs that produce fruit in the real world. Focus on Business, Medicine, Law, Science, Mathematics, Education, Engineering and such. Focusing our resources on fewer programs would raise the level of development in those programs and would cut wasteful spending.

Thoughts?

Arts and humanities, communications, political science, languages, social sciences, etc. are all important too. You can have top notch, worthwhile academic programs across the board if you invest and spend wisely. Most law school applicants are political science majors. It’s not that Penn State spends a ton, it’s that they overspend on everything. Now they’re wanting to fix internal administrative issues but really need to prioritize providing a quality, reputable education to students who thrive after going to Penn State.

 

[GrimReaper]

don't you love bureaucratspeak?

Yeah, and no one is better at using it than academics.

In effective organizations, when objectives are set, standards to measure success against those objectives are formulated simultaneously. Any bets that PSU has no standards and that it will pick up random things along the way in its push to declare victory?

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Arts and humanities, communications, political science, languages, social sciences, etc. are all important too. You can have top notch, worthwhile academic programs across the board if you invest and spend wisely. Most law school applicants are political science majors. It’s not that Penn State spends a ton, it’s that they overspend on everything. Now they’re wanting to fix internal administrative issues but really need to prioritize providing a quality, reputable education to students who thrive after going to Penn State.

I agree with Midnighter all students should graduate with an arts degree with at least 50k in debt. Shouldn’t take more than a decade at WAWA to pay it back if mom lets you live at home

 

[Midnighter]

I agree with Midnighter all students should graduate with an arts degree with at least 50k in debt. Shouldn’t take more than a decade at WAWA to pay it back if mom lets you live at home

The flip side is everyone are either engineers or scientists or doctors. Fun.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

The flip side is everyone are either engineers or scientists or doctors. Fun.

Don’t forget finance

 

[Midnighter]

Don’t forget finance

Those guys are a blast!

 

[Achowalogan]

Joe challenging the BOT again….

 

[pamdlion]

Focus on academics and stop the woke agenda.

 

[Woodpecker]

I agree with Midnighter all students should graduate with an arts degree with at least 50k in debt. Shouldn’t take more than a decade at WAWA to pay it back if mom lets you live at home

Or if Pops buys you a house

 

[Midnighter]

Or if Pops buys you a house

 

[blion72]

don't you love bureaucratspeak?

these are the same goals as almost every university in the US have. it would be interesting to see how they measure their success in terms of being great again, and how these measures have declined. Then they would have root cause analysis of the deficit and identify the plans and countermeasures to mitigate the decline. Those mitigations would be their strategic plan. the above statements from the President may be a vision, but what do they mean in terms of strategy and tactics leading to outcomes. quite likely that the needed tactics would not please everyone.

do you think they have a real plan?

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Those guys are a blast!

2 is too legit to quit

 

[Bison13]

these are the same goals as almost every university in the US have. it would be interesting to see how they measure their success in terms of being great again, and how these measures have declined. Then they would have root cause analysis of the deficit and identify the plans and countermeasures to mitigate the decline. Those mitigations would be their strategic plan. the above statements from the President may be a vision, but what do they mean in terms of strategy and tactics leading to outcomes. quite likely that the needed tactics would not please everyone.

do you think they have a real plan?

I seriously doubt it. But step one should be asking every department to find a way to cut spending 10% (i think thats a nice #, could be 5% to start) even if it means getting rid of people

 

[Midnighter]

2 is too legit to quit

Wealthiest guys I know are in finance or tech (or pro athletes, but that’s not for everyone). I can see how finance is addictive - it’s been gamified. It’s a haven for the greedy and ambitious and not a playground I’d want to spend much time in though.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

2s future is very bright he’s an absolute stud

 

[Midnighter]

2s future is very bright he’s an absolute stud

Finance is ruthless. But good luck to him.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Poised for greatness. With the same outfit since State, making his way. PENN/NW/Harvard/Booth on the horizon

 

[bdgan]

I regularly see people discussing our academic decline. So, what will it take to put the shine back on that Diploma?

Personally, I'd like to see PSU focus their resources on programs that produce fruit in the real world. Focus on Business, Medicine, Law, Science, Mathematics, Education, Engineering and such. Focusing our resources on fewer programs would raise the level of development in those programs and would cut wasteful spending.

Thoughts?

Agree, but a lot of people are spending $$$ for the less fruitful majors so I don't expect that to happen.

 

[bdgan]

Arts and humanities, communications, political science, languages, social sciences, etc. are all important too.

Why?

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I told my sons we’re only paying for vocational majors. “If you want to do art, do it when you get home from work”

 

[Nitt1300]

Focus on academics and stop the woke agenda.

because that's the problem

 

[Bvillebaron]

Focus on academics and stop the woke agenda.

Hey now that’s a thought.

 

[Midnighter]

Why?

If you have to ask….

 

[GrimReaper]

because that's the problem

The problem is that the majority of college administrators focus on nothing beyond advancing their careers. Requires a different mindset when operating in organizations where there is no accountability for results.

 

[Midnighter]

I told my sons we’re only paying for vocational majors. “If you want to do art, do it when you get home from work”

Everything is a vocational major if you’re good enough.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Everything is a vocational major if you’re good enough.

The reality I was an AWESOME RB but wasn’t good enough for the NFL

 

[Midnighter]

The reality I was an AWESOME RB but wasn’t good enough for the NFL

Don’t give up on your dreams!

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Don’t give up on your dreams!

Living them right now!

 

[Midnighter]

Sadly in your art free world you wouldn’t have wonderful music to listen to, compelling and thoughtful books to read, comfortable clothes to wear, or good restaurants to eat at. It
would be like North Korea with everyone looking like Dr. Evil and lining up for their weekly rations.

Also, you need another drink!

 

[Rick76]

I think an across the board cut of 10% for every department would be a great start.

Then I'd review every faculty member that isn't teaching at least one class per semester and have them justify their position. (Back in the day, I had a prof who was VP for research; he taught classes and had advisees. It can be done).

No administrative positions unless they're funded by outside entities.

No directors of institutes or cross departmental special groups unless funded by outside entities.

Review the intellectual property policy. A big research university should be making tons of money on IP licensing.

Consolidate some commonwealth campuses.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Sadly in your art free world you wouldn’t have wonderful music to listen to, compelling and thoughtful books to read, comfortable clothes to wear, or good restaurants to eat at. It
would be like North Korea with everyone looking like Dr. Evil and lining up for their weekly rations.

Also, you need another drink!

I buy clothes at Walmart and

 

[SleepyLion]

I think an across the board cut of 10% for every department would be a great start.

Then I'd review every faculty member that isn't teaching at least one class per semester and have them justify their position. (Back in the day, I had a prof who was VP for research; he taught classes and had advisees. It can be done).

No administrative positions unless they're funded by outside entities.

No directors of institutes or cross departmental special groups unless funded by outside entities.

Review the intellectual property policy. A big research university should be making tons of money on IP licensing.

Consolidate some commonwealth campuses.

what outside entity would fund an administrative position, like HR or payroll or IT?

 

[Achowalogan]

these are the same goals as almost every university in the US have. it would be interesting to see how they measure their success in terms of being great again, and how these measures have declined. Then they would have root cause analysis of the deficit and identify the plans and countermeasures to mitigate the decline. Those mitigations would be their strategic plan. the above statements from the President may be a vision, but what do they mean in terms of strategy and tactics leading to outcomes. quite likely that the needed tactics would not please everyone.

do you think they have a real plan?

No