Sociology

Summary:

College education is currently an essential factor in determining the success of an individual in today's informational world. Apart from the knowledge gained, students get to explore different aspects of life such as art, culture, history, their aspirations, and dreams. However, the commercialization of education over the past few years has seen a difference in the culture of institutions of higher learning. Examples of this is where students are now referred to as consumers and education are the products; universities are commercializing their research work; patenting and keeping important discoveries secret; and allowing its name to be used by other companies for endorsement in exchange for financial gains.

Despite the reformers who pushed for these changes having noble causes in mind and the genuine belief that the universities would be able to take on these functions without compromising their primary roles, the universities' activities are now dictated by market forces. The universities have changed their priorities over time. They have shifted their attention to research so that they can get grants and recognition thus leaving the teaching function to the less experienced graduate students despite increasing the undergraduate student tuition fees.

An increase in ties between the university and the industry has led to languishing of the less commercial oriented studies despite them being beneficial to the public. The reason being that natural organisms and ecological understanding that are used in biological controls cannot be patented hence making no economic sense.

The increasing amount of funding received by universities from the private sector has led to the loss of academic independence hence suppressing important information that the industries don't want to be made public. An instance is given where Merck had its painkiller drugs, Vioxx, approved by the FDA yet it led to heart attacks and strokes because Merck had failed to report the three deaths that occurred during the 2000 trials. The most likely reason for this is that the lead investigator and the university have financial interests in the company sponsoring drug trials. All these can be attributed to the free market bazaar where the markets thrive but are not able to self-regulate.

The rush for funding from the industries can also be seen to be a reaction to the federal law that was enacted over two decades ago. The law was instrumental in laying a foundation for the academic-industrial complex that was currently in operation. Patent generation by the universities increased tremendously with implementation of the Act. The industry funding also increased by an annual rate of 8.1% that led to an amount of 2USD in 2001.

Universities should be the conscience and critics of the industry. The post-war period, however, saw the roles of the university change so that they can serve its

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