BookTV: Jonathan Cole, "The Great American University"

Summary

In this interview, Jonathan Cole, former Provost and current University Professor at Columbia University, discusses the role of a Provost and his transition back to teaching and research. He elaborates on the concept of 'Great American Universities,' highlighting their global dominance due to research and innovation. Cole expresses concerns over internal threats to these institutions, such as budget cuts, rather than international competition. He also touches on the student loan issue, viewing it as a complex matter with both positive and negative implications for the higher education system.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Dr. Jonathan Cole served as the Provost of Columbia University, overseeing academic programs, deans, vice presidents, and the budget, akin to a COO role.
• 🏫 As a university Professor, he has the freedom to teach across various schools within Columbia University, reflecting his passion for teaching and research.
• 📚 He helped establish the field of sociology of science, emphasizing the social systems' influence on the growth of ideas and knowledge.
• 🌟 Dr. Cole defines a great university by its role in transmitting and creating new knowledge, with American universities leading in research and global rankings.
• 🔬 American universities are renowned for their research discoveries, such as the laser and GPS, contributing significantly to global advancements.
• 🌐 The concept of a 'great university' is not just about undergraduate education but also the research output and global reputation.
• 🏛️ Despite competition, Dr. Cole believes the U.S. will maintain its dominance in higher education for the next 20-25 years due to its strong academic foundation.
• 🚀 He views the university system as an industry that produces non-depletable knowledge, with intellectual property rights and close ties to other industries.
• 🏛️ The greatest threat to American universities, according to Dr. Cole, comes from internal issues rather than foreign competition.
• 💸 Dr. Cole expresses concern over the financial challenges faced by public university systems, which could undermine their ability to maintain excellence.

Q & A

What is the role of a Provost at a university?

A Provost is responsible for running the internal operations of a university. At Columbia, the Provost managed academic programs, oversaw Deans and vice presidents, controlled the budget, and was in charge of the tenure system.

What does Dr. Cole's current role as a university Professor entail?

As a university Professor, Dr. Cole can teach at any school within the university system without boundaries. He has the opportunity to teach across various disciplines, from journalism to architecture and law.

What field did Dr. Cole help develop?

Dr. Cole helped develop the field of the sociology of science, which examines the social systems that influence the growth of ideas and knowledge.

How does Dr. Cole define a 'Great American University'?

A 'Great American University' is defined by its role in the transmission and creation of new knowledge, particularly through research discoveries that have a global impact.

Why does Dr. Cole believe American universities dominate the global higher education landscape?

American universities dominate because of their research discoveries, which often have significant practical applications and are not well-understood by the public.

What are some examples of discoveries that originated from American universities?

Examples include the laser, the global positioning system, and the cure for childhood leukemia.

How does Dr. Cole view the concept of the American university as an 'industry'?

Dr. Cole sees the American university as an industry because it produces non-depletable knowledge, has close ties to industry, and owns intellectual property resulting from federally funded research.

Why isn't Dr. Cole as worried about foreign competition in higher education?

Dr. Cole believes competition could lead to more discoveries and innovation. He also notes that other countries, like China, still need to fully embrace values like academic freedom and free inquiry.

What internal threats does Dr. Cole identify for American universities?

Dr. Cole is concerned about threats such as budget cuts to public university systems, which could lead to a loss of greatness and hinder the production of future discoveries.

How does Dr. Cole perceive the student loan issue's impact on the higher education system?

Dr. Cole views the student loan issue as a mixed story, with both positive and negative aspects affecting the system.