At first glance, Wisconsin and North Carolina do not seem to have much in common. Brats vs. Barbecue. Football vs. Basketball. Cheeseheads vs. Tar Heels. North Carolina has 4 million more people than Wisconsin. North Carolina gets an average of 5 inches of snow per year. Wisconsin gets that much in November alone. Despite the differences between the states, they both have had one thing in common that has led substantially to the success of both both states:  a great university system. Sadly, they also have something else in common these days: political leaders seemingly hellbent on destroying their great university systems. When reviewing the higher education policies in these states, you can easily see that both serve as a recipe to destroy a great public higher education system.

As much as (if not more than) nearly any public university system in the country, the University of North Carolina and the University of Wisconsin lifted their states socially and economically. Both are known for world class research and offering high quality education to their state’s population.

Moreover, both university systems have a long history of service to the state eschewing the Ivory Tower trend.

Simply put, UNC and UW have been models for a great public higher education system for generations.

Yet, despite (or perhaps in spite of) the success attained by these public institutions, leaders in both states are taking steps to weaken, damage, or destroy the ability of their public universities to serve their teaching, research, and public service missions.

What emerges is a recipe for any state legislature or governor that is looking to destroy their own public higher education systems.

Recipe for “Destroying a Great Public Higher Education System” Lasagna

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven by politicizing the university. Grease a 9×13 baking dish by firing a well-liked university president for no reason and adding trustees focused on political agendas rather than the university’s best interests.

2.  Slice the university lengthwise into very thin slices. Cuts of $300-$400 million should be about right.  Sprinkle lightly with salt; set aside in a colander for high quality faculty, students, and administrators to leave the system.

3.  To prepare the sauce, cook and stir faculty in a large skillet over medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add in proposals for weakening tenure protections, cook and stir until meat is no longer pink. Stir in rhetoric about how faculty costs drive up tuition, basil, and oregano. Add a small proposal to increase faculty teaching loads if the sauce is too thick. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for a couple of years, stirring frequently.

4.  Meanwhile, stir criticism of the art history, humanities, and social sciences together and a push for vocationalism in a bowl until creating well combined mixture.

5.  To assemble, spread 1/2 of the damaged faculty sauce into the bottom of the greased politicized university dish. Then layer 1/2 of the thin sliced funding cuts, 1/2 of the vocationalism emphasis mixture, and repeat. Spread proposals to curtail shared governance evenly over the top; cover with foil.

6.  Bake for 1 legislative session. Remove foil; raise temperature to 350 degrees F and bake an additional presidential campaign cycle. Let stand and wait for the damage to the state’s social and economic growth.

Reviews:

***** Wow! This recipe was wonderful! I never thought to grease the baking dish by firing a president. Please tell me you have more than just this one recipe to share with us. This was amazing —Scott2016

** I didn’t like this too much, even with the suggestions. I think the main thing I didn’t care for was the after taste. Won’t bother with this one again —CampusPrez15

***** This was so good. I sautéed the additional teaching loads in a little olive oil which was a great addition. You could probably double this recipe and have great leftovers. —SenatorTom

*** This was just okay, nothing too special for all the work it took to prepare it. —Ownmybiz78

* Looked great, smelled great, but there was something off about the taste. —Classof2016

*I have made so many recipes from this website that have been delicious and this is the only one that did not pass the test. I usually have great success with 5 star recipes and this one fooled me and my family. There are so many better recipes that taste far superior without all the effort. —Justsomeonewhocaresaboutmystate