Higher education is striving to address problems such as access, inclusion, and elitism, but is a neoliberalist foundation undermining these efforts—or even the system itself? An online forum held on April 21, “Deconstructing Neoliberalism in Higher Education: How can we promote greater equity and re-professionalize the professoriate?” addressed this quandary.

Since the rise of neoliberalism in the 1970s, the divisions in American society have widened. These divisions are reflected on college campuses among students, faculty, and administration. Equality of opportunity to attend and complete college has declined as aid programs have decreased and tuition rates have increased. The divide among faculty is evident in the slow decimation of tenure and an increasing reliance on part-time and contingent educators.

This 115-minute online forum sponsored by Social Science Space brought together four scholars to discuss the costs to individuals and the institution of higher education as the loss of tenure undermines shared governance, academic freedom, and an independent voice in society. Panelists Ana M. Martinez Aleman, Rodney Coates and Christopher Newfield will join moderator Nathan Rousseau in sharing their ideas on promoting greater equity and re-professionalizing the professoriate.