Opinion: Moving past 1862: The evolving role of the land-grant, R1 institution

Fred King
Professor, Vice President for Research
West Virginia University

The American public’s trust in higher education has waned considerably within the last decade.

This is an interesting, new dynamic: Academia’s detractors represent various segments of America – from those living in rural, poverty-stricken areas who feel higher ed is out of reach and out of touch with the real world to the wealthy, powerful and elite (many of whom, ironically, hold college degrees themselves).…