cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/1806644
Archived version: https://archive.ph/nFSSK
Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20230823162005/https://therealnews.com/this-public-university-just-announced-massive-layoffs-is-all-higher-ed-at-risk
The economics aren’t really that tied. A lot of universities have research arms that are not tied to their undergraduate population. It might need a graduate student population to oppress, but undergrads are rather worthless.
Undergrads are the revenue generating portion of the university
Not really. Universities make a lot of money off research and the research helps more with prestige ratings.
Grant money from researchers is a drop in the bucket. That money mostly goes to flesh out laboratories with fancy equipment and pay for research assistants.