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What Can't Be Standardized in Higher Education?

Higher education is going through radical changes and struggling universities are moving online to increase their reach and balance their budgets. A number of studies have shown that standardization doesn't lessen educational quality and provides consistency in course instruction. Despite standardization there are two things that still need qualified faculty to complete effectively. Grading papers and engaging in conversation require a guiding hand to fully function as intended. Both of these course activities are based in qualitative measurements that are very difficult for automated algorithms to calculate. It takes considerable experience and human insight to understand the student's current vantage point and propose new information to push their knowledge. Each paper comes with a blend of course information, learned experience, thought processes and communication abilities. Professors must try and follow the train of thought and make judgments on the students understand

How is a Professor’s Time Divided?

The notion of professors sitting around on plush chairs discussing the nuances of a latest theory is gone. No longer do dusty books, social ramblings, and conversations of historic significance make their way into the ivory towers. A study at Boise State University dismisses the myth of esoteric discussions and replaces it with longer workweeks engage in teaching, administrative work, and meetings.  The study printed Inside Higher Ed was limited to the university and 30 instructors but does indicate that the expectations of professors have changed. On average professors worked 61 hours a week and worked nearly every day of the week. This means that when they are home on Saturday or Sunday they also engage in their work.  Around 60% of their work was completed on campus, 24% at home and 17% at off-campus locations. The majority of the time professors worked alone on their projects and used only 17% of their time with other colleagues and 15% with other students.   According