Fixing the Fragmented University: Decentralization With Direction

A fatal flaw in accountability programs is the fragmented university that leaves academic departments—the units most responsible for institutional results—out of the performance loop. Currently, decentralization fosters a disabling disconnect among societal concerns, institutional goals, and departmental aims, the three links of public accountability. How then can the culture of many research universities be transformed from provider-driven prestige to public-centered engagement? The answer...