[danaris]

Plenty of US colleges and universities are primarily about education and/or research, even today. Far from all, to be sure—and some are primarily about connections and the school name (primarily Ivies), rather than any of the above.

[j45]

None of which exist without making sure the organization isa bout sufficient cashflow from government, students, and industry.

I shouldn't say it so simply, it might result in attempts to convolute it to distract from the fact that bureaucracies serve to maintain revenue/income and grow it.

[danaris]

There's a big difference between "the organization needs to maintain a sufficient cashflow" and "the organization is primarily concerned with its financial status, at the expense of its putative mission".

[j45]

That sounds about right.

The only thing I’d add is there are too many institutions obsessed with growth (new buildings to name and dedicate) which means growing cashflow.