This week I have combed through academic literature using key terms like ‘marketization’, ‘commodification’, ‘financialization’, ‘managerialism’, and higher education. I found three sources that appear to be relevant to the research I want to conduct. I wrote an annotated bibliography on the selected sources which illustrate their connection. I need to look into the Maine News for reports on the changes. I believe the Portland Press Herald will have reports on these changes as I can specially remember them, and my parents stay up to date with USM topics because they are alumni.
I have heard back from two of my sources who have expressed interest in being interviewed. In regard to this, I need to complete the interviewer consent form, create an interview protocol, and schedule times to meet. I am also trying to reach out to a couple of students on USM’s campus to try and access a student’s perspective on the changes. I am waiting to hear back from three other sources.
Lastly, I think I want my final project to be in the shape of a podcast instead of a paper. This is something that would be new, and I feel excited about it. I plan on attending Professor Lopez’s podcast workshop next week for specific guidance. The only foreseeable problem with a podcast is the inability to showcase newspaper and literature quotes in the same way as in a paper. Therefore, I would have to highlight them in different ways through the podcast.
My initial impressions of the literature is that they are going to parallel with the changes I am going to see have occurred or are occurring at USM. Due to the financial crisis USM is going through they needed to change their management style in hopes that it would create more revenue.
The challenges I am experiences are stemming from the lack of responses I have received from those who I have emailed. This is proving difficult to move forward currently. I am going to set up a time to continue conversations with both of the respondents who have answered.
Annotated Bibliography:
Deem *, Rosemary and Kevin J. Brehony. 2005. “Management as Ideology: The Case of ‘New Managerialism’ in Higher Education.” Oxford Review of Education31(2):217–35.
Kevin Brehony is a Professor in the Department of Education at Roehampton University. Rosemary Deem is a Professor at Royal Holloway University of London. She is a Dean at the Doctoral School and Faculty of History and Social Sciences. Deem’s research focuses on higher education specifically, policy, management, organizational theory, and comparative social science. Their paper, “Management as ideology: the case of ‘new managerialism’ in higher education,” discusses the dominance of management given the reform of higher education. Their research is based off of research in the UK. This may prove to be difficult for my research as the context and culture of Universities is quite different than the United States. This specifically addresses the managerial changes in higher education and its role in the reformation of higher education in general. It appears this paper is from a more individualistic perspective which then creates changes on a macro level.
Robins, Kevin and Frank Webster. 2002. The Virtual University?: Knowledge, Markets, and Management. OUP Oxford.
Kevin Robins is a Professor of Communications at Goldsmith’s College, University of London. Frank Webster is a Professor of Sociology at the City University. This article draws once again on the changes in Universities over time. They explicitly highlight the way they are managed with a more businesslike model and re-organization of departments and finances. However, the authors explain these changes through the advancement of technology. The audience of this book appears to be researchers in the discipline and those invested in social change within education. This sheds like on the impacts of the advancement of technology within higher education.
Shumar, Wesley. 2013. College For Sale : A Critique of the Commodification of Higher Education. Routledge.
Wesley Shumar is a professor of communication at Drexel University. Shumar’s research focuses on higher education. He has conducted ethnographic studies evaluating education, entrepreneurship education, and the semiotics of mass culture. However, Shumar’s book, “College For Sale: A Critique of the Commodification of Higher Education” focuses on the changes higher education has seen since the 1970’s. These changes include, the focus on career, financial crisis, and corporate approaches to education alongside the new business-like administrators with a decrease in faculty. This book explains the changes in higher education over the years and could be a tool for educators, administrators, and theorists. Given the emphasis on theory and history, it appears this book is for people in the discipline or those trying to write about the discipline. Shumar’s book points out the problems with commodifying education whereas my other sources aren’t as critical of the implication but instead lay out the details of the financialization in higher education.
COMMENTS:
This was the best reflection I’ve read for the class, Hannah. It is meticulous, informative, and well-organized. You are also making insightful connections between your sources (which look good) and your project. I think you are on the right track with your project.