First in Future: James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal President Jenna Robinson

Summary:   If you had to pick out the most outspoken critic of higher education in North Carolina, it wouldn’t take you long to find the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal. For the past 14 years, the Martin Center has been putting a spotlight on higher education, sharing frustration and outrage about the quality of education, its cost, its substance. Center staff have written about courses they see as frivolous, faculty they see as spending too much time on writing and not enough time in the classroom, facilities that see as wasteful, administrators they see as too plentiful. It’s a really important set of criticisms, one that higher ed needs to be aware of and in conversation about. This week, we talk with Martin Center President Jenna Robinson about her love-hate relationship with the current state of higher education.

Excerpt:  “In my ideal world, everyone would get that fundamental knowledge in high school, because it is so fundamental that I don’t think it should be limited just to people that go on to higher education.”

Book recommendations:  Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman

Major issue NC needs to address in the short term?  pathway to higher education

This installment is part of a special 13-segment series produced in collaboration with UNC-TV, and recorded in UNC-TV’s Legislative Studio in downtown Raleigh. We are excited to share the First in Future podcast via traditional means and via taped segments to air on the North Carolina Channel! Check back soon for specific air dates.

Listen to the podcast:

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