Covering the business of education and training

BMW has endowed two chairs at Clemson University with $5 million each. 

Though BMW is in Germany, it has a major plant in South Carolina.

The state matched BMW's $10 million with $10 million.

But, there is a catch...always a catch.

BMW wants to have a say in the hiring process in the endowed chairs.

Clemson University wants to establish an International Center for Automotive Research that among other things has a graduate program in automotive engineering.

BMW wants to participate in deciding who is going to do what with the money they give.

Clemson's VP for research and economic development says the new automotive center, on 250 acres in Greenville, is based on a new model of university-business cooperation, according to InsiderHigherEd.

The faculty council says they are surprised that any corporate donor could have a say in academic issues.

Well, I am NOT surprised by the faculty council's reaction.

Why shouldn't a donor have a say in how the money is spent? Should they have the final say? No.

Can they withdraw their donation if they don't like how it is being used? I suppose so. Isn't that the same as participating in the hiring process?

Businesses and universities are getting friendlier and friendlier.

I see this as a good thing...IF the donated money doesn't end up in some professor's salary, lab or to use grad students to teach classes.

What do you think?