Budget, Political Stress Could Cause Long-Term Damage at U.S. Research Universities, Experts Say

Reduced financial support and rising political challenges are forcing American research universities to defend long-established practices and to consider significant and sometimes troubling changes, a trio of experts said recently at AAAS.

Dramatic reductions in state funding are already forcing huge tuition increases for students and uncertainty in the federal budget is disrupting university planning, the experts said at the AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy. While the climate is pushing universities to operate more efficiently and effectively, the experts warned that such pressures also could undermine a system that has made U.S. universities a dominant global power in research, innovation, and economic growth.

To learn more about the discussion on the future of U.S. research universities, read the full story.