US: The Business of Higher Education

In a recently published book, The Business of Higher Education, editors John C Knapp and David J Siegel pull together 35 essays by 44 contributors from academia and business into three volumes investigating the costs and benefits to public and private universities when they employ business models to improve cost-efficiency, marketing, hiring practices and customer service.

According to publisher Greenwood's book description: "The first volume explores issues of leadership and culture, the second focuses on management and fiscal strategies, and the third volume takes up issues of marketing and consumer interests." The topics range from academy-industry partnerships to rankings to sports revenues

"Throughout, the work balances the contrasting perspectives of those within the academy and those outside of it, as it considers whether higher education and the public interest are ultimately helped or harmed by the application of business methods to essential academic functions," the description adds.

Professor John C Knapp is director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership at Samford University in Birmingham, and David J Siegel is an associate professor in the department of educational leadership at East Carolina University.

The hardcover book costs $184.95 and may be ordered from Greenwood.

Email interview with the authors in Inside Higher Ed