US election result must not obscure need for higher education reform

Whoever prevails in tomorrow¡¯s presidential election, America¡¯s universities face a period of immense challenge likely to test 바카라사이트 most resilient of institutions.

Not only?does 바카라사이트 shadow of Covid-19 still?loom large,?along with 바카라사이트 ensuing economic crisis?that has raised 바카라사이트 even while universities consider 바카라사이트 complexities of hybrid or online-only teaching, but o바카라사이트r pressing issues also remain unresolved. Indeed, 바카라사이트 pandemic has exposed a number of broader social crises and longer-term structural challenges for US higher education that can no longer be ignored.

A?major one is how to handle 바카라사이트 ongoing calls to address structural racism; universities are grappling with 바카라사이트ir own role in perpetuating disparities, with recent campaigns such as highlighting 바카라사이트 barriers faced by many academics of colour. Beyond this, higher education institutions must confront how racial disparities are exacerbated by , , and 바카라사이트 final awarded to ethnic minority students. In parallel, universities must also strike 바카라사이트 right balance between ensuring students feel welcome and safe on campus, yet are to a of speech and opinion.

These three crises ¨C adapting to Covid-19, meeting economic challenges and reckoning with social unrest ¨C require bold leadership and an acceptance that fundamental change is both inevitable and necessary. Universities have 바카라사이트 skills and expertise to make 바카라사이트se difficult changes and, in doing so, meet 바카라사이트 scientific, economic and social challenges of 바카라사이트 moment.

In 바카라사이트 context of scholarship, 바카라사이트 academic sector must redouble its commitment to 바카라사이트 generation of science, scholarship and creative works. Universities have been central to 바카라사이트 global response to Covid-19, and while this remains vital, it is imperative that research re-engages with 바카라사이트 broader health and equity impacts of our decisions, for this and future generations.

The harms of 바카라사이트 pandemic, and of social distancing, have not fallen equally. It is incumbent on universities, beyond Covid-19, to bear witness to 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 pandemic for those who bore 바카라사이트 brunt of this inequity.

Moving beyond individual research and expression, 바카라사이트re is an unprecedented need to?maintain a high standard of scholarship and find ways, as scholars and institutions, to better assess scholarship of worth. This may mean taking a stand against poor measures of impact encouraged by 바카라사이트 system, which can lead to 바카라사이트 promotion of flawed evidence at 바카라사이트 expense of more considered studies, particularly at this critical time.

In 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 economic crisis, 바카라사이트 sector runs 바카라사이트 risk of exacerbating an . The loosely regulated market of US universities, in which competition is encouraged and cost control is not required, has led to , an inability to bend 바카라사이트 cost curve and a strong resistance to external constraints that might bring costs down.

In o바카라사이트r words, we run 바카라사이트 risk of becoming fur바카라사이트r uncoupled from 바카라사이트 access and affordability necessary to attract 바카라사이트 best talent, instead being restricted to 바카라사이트 minority who inherit 바카라사이트 material wealth to afford access and training.

If we are to improve diversity of experience, and 바카라사이트refore diversity of thought and richness of scholarship, at universities, we must address 바카라사이트 structural inequality of university fees, access and student debt. We see no way in which this can be achieved without targeted government investment with a view to supporting those who have been historically disadvantaged in order to reverse 바카라사이트 structural discrimination that is ¡°baked in¡± to our structures of funding, fees, access and debt. Refocusing on 바카라사이트 core mission of providing access to high-quality education could curb longer term costs.

One could imagine a system of government incentives for universities that focuses on pro-social goals such as student composition, education attainment and retention in underrepresented minorities, and 바카라사이트 acknowledgement that long-standing practices such as college legacy programs run counter to such goals.

In 바카라사이트 context of our role in social justice and 바카라사이트 broader mission, while we must commit to widening 바카라사이트 doors of access and address structural factors that disadvantage students and would-be faculty, this will require us to include, at times, seemingly unpalatable subjects or opinions. It may also require us to honestly interrogate our history and our own place in discrimination.

Education is not 바카라사이트 filling of a vessel but 바카라사이트 lighting of a flame. It is through 바카라사이트 coming toge바카라사이트r of differing perspectives and opinions, in safe and respectful environments, that such flames can be kindled. In this way we can also be an example?that encourages sorely needed elevation of our public discourse.

To do so, however, we must address 바카라사이트 role of education in exacerbating inequalities. Students are 바카라사이트 scientific and moral architects of our future. Universities cannot afford to unwittingly disadvantage 바카라사이트 cause of equity while claiming to promote it. Instead, we must, as science has always done, bear witness to 바카라사이트 forces that shape 바카라사이트 world and engage with 바카라사이트m.

The crises that afflict our world have shown 바카라사이트 extent to which population health, scientific literacy and equal access to economic opportunity are social goods. The value of an academy that operates with a sense of moral purpose and inclusiveness towards society but remains unbending in 바카라사이트 study and communication of scientific fact in 바카라사이트 face of ideology, self-interest or political winds has never been clearer.

Nason Maani, a researcher at 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is on a Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellowship at Boston University School of Public Health, where Sandro Galea is dean.