Why are perceptions so important? Are they important even if they are not valid?
What perceptions of higher education have you heard? What difference might they make?
What is the market for higher education? What are the products? To what degree are students customers? Could the academy be a customer-driven organization?
What, if anything, is unique about higher education?
How might perceptions of higher education impact the academic library?
To what degree should higher education be research-oriented? Does the focus on research result in poorer teaching and learning?
Should higher education be involved in training? Isn't education for library service training? What is the difference between training and education?
One common criticism of faculty is that they only work six or nine hours per week. Is this true? Why is this perception common?
What should be the relationship between higher education and employment? Is the purpose of the academy to help graduates secure better jobs?
If publishing is the major requirement for tenure, promotion, and financial rewards, what is the likely impact on teaching and public service?
Some have argued for years, that most faculty are left-leaning and that their teaching is subjective, really more like indoctrination than instruction, and that this has turned "normal" U.S. students into unthinking liberals. Do this seem likely? How easy would it be for a teacher to alter a student's beliefs and perceptions?
As universities seek and become more dependent upon external funding, forces and agencies external to the academy will determine the research agenda. There is also the possibility that subjects not likely to appeal to external funders will be seen as less important. What should or might be done about this situation? How might it affect the library?
How might a community college or liberal arts college differ in these matters from a university?
To what degree should the academy aspire to becoming larger? Is size a proper criterion for ranking and evaluating the academy. Why do most community colleges wish to become four year colleges? Why do most four year colleges want to be come universities?
Is the university the "gatekeeper on the road to money and power...?" Is this an appropriate role or purpose? What should be the relationship between the academy and success in life?
Are critical comments about higher education likely to decrease, increase, or stay about the same in the immediate future? Why?
