[karissa]

You're right, it isn't. It's largely a for-profit industry, even the 'non profit' colleges. Most teachers, especially adjuncts, make very little in comparison to what the students are paying -- look at NYU, 50k/year per student in a class of 20 where the teacher is paid 5k/class. The math doesn't add up.

[keithpeter]

Would a self organised University be possible in the US system?

A group of teachers using cheap space and online communications to provide lectures/support/assessment with students then taking exams accredited by another institution? Possibly with sponsorship/organisational support from a voluntary sector organisation?

That is basically how most Universities outside Oxford/Cambridge/Edinburgh/Aberdeen started in UK in the Victorian period. The University of London was set up to validate degrees provided by various constituent colleges in the regions. There was a strong non-conformist (Baptist/Methodist) input on the funding and organisational side.

[derpud]

Faculty would love to disintermediate the ever growing administration. Accreditation is an issue, and overcoming the importance of brand. Competing with the for profit niche might work though.

[karissa]

I'd love that. I think a lot of teachers would be happy to get rid of the bloated administration in their university.

[x0x0]

Of course the math adds up. You can't run a university without a home in Fire Island, and that shit's spendy.

[karissa]

I rofled