Mark Funkhouser, former KC mayor, offers interesting (and provocative) observations. He make this point: “The lands granted by the federal Morrill Act of 1862 created many of today’s most prestigious public universities “in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes.” As that suggests, public colleges and universities should be judged not on how well they emulate the Harvards of the world, but on how well they further the mission of providing access to higher education for people of ordinary means and achieve the public purpose of contributing to the economic development of a state and the prosperity of its residents.”

Funkhouser also chides administrators and faculty for sometimes working against the notion of public higher education for the public good.