"Higher Education Leadership Is in Crisis"

"Like any large organization, universities require administration. That's not the same as saying that universities need an administrative class. To avoid crony managerialism and create more effective administration, universities should instead practice a more democratic and participatory model of leadership. British, German, Japanese, and many other university systems offer one alternative. In these systems, students and faculty (and sometimes staff) play a more central role in decision-making because they elect academic officers—including chancellors, presidents and deans. The university rector is not a professional administrator but instead a member of the faculty who knows the institution well through their career as a teacher and scholar. In many of these systems, the rector enjoys a specific term of office before they return to the faculty. While rectors may appoint managers, their decisions are ultimately subject to the academic community they represent—not to a coterie of like-minded bureaucrats."

At Truthout, Larry Hanley and Vida Samiian argue that "[t]he current [California State University] system—with its sweetheart deals and cronyism—benefits a few at the expense of the many, including students, faculty and the public."