A leadership group that is open to change, risk, and innovation (for the institution as a whole and at every level) would enable universities to be the sandbox (less militaristic than skunk works, but that might be less powerful a term as a result) for knowledge creation.

Great conversation and one that, having recently been awarded tenure, I’m particularly sensitive too.

I love the phrase as a defense of higher ed’s defenses!

It’s worth thinking about exceptions, like higher ed’s embrace of Macarthyism as a case, or various policing functions ranging from speech codes to religious indoctrination. Like many things, higher ed is a contested ground.

PS: Gardner, did you see this week’s video at the Draculablog?

“That willingness transcends personal choice in many ways–I think that the real willingness probably needs to happen at a higher, institutional level in order for it to filter down to individual faculty (and students).”

A great leadership insight, in my view. Grassroots is great, and may it live forever, but leadership at the institutional level you’re describing can yield tremendous synergies. A team, a cast, a family.

Universities are the skunk works of civilization, and we better get serious about it or that task will be assigned elsewhere. And that would be sad, not because I’d be out of a job, but because universities are uniquely suited to be skunk works.

It’s the students who get to be our risk-takers.