Are research schools in trouble?

Research universities are in for "a few tough years," according to Allan Bromley, a Yale University professor who was the science and technology advisor to President Bush. Bromley, who is also president of the American Physical Society, addressed nearly 100 students and faculty yesterday at the David Rittenhouse Laboratory on the future of large research universities. One of the major problems facing institutions like Penn, Bromley said, is a poor public image. "The public perception of what [universities] are up to isn't good," he said. "It's remarkable how they've lost the trust and respect of the American public." The public thinks especially poorly of professors, Bromley added, quoting former Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-Calif.): "Go to a research university. I defy you to find a senior professor actually teaching a class of students." But Bromley, who is also Yale's engineering dean, flatly denied those accusations. "We have failed miserably in convincing people that we actually work," he said. "The idea is that about 10:30 in the morning, the research professor comes in and says 'I think I'll do some research today. I wonder what would be interesting to look at'." Another cause for concern, Bromley said, is an up-and-down pattern of federal funding for research. In the 1960s, the government increased funding to research by 20 percent annually, allowing universities to construct new buildings and hire new tenured professors. But when the government began decreasing university funding in 1968, the schools were stuck with the buildings and professors. Lacking the money to pay for them, this lead to a sharp decrease in graduate education programs. Bromley compared the situation of the 1960s to the 1990s. Since the government has been cutting back on research and development spending over the past decade, he expressed concern about similar cutbacks. "I'm worried that by the end of the millennium, we may well realize that we made a terrible mistake," he said. "And if we [implement] another crash program, we're going to freeze each alternate generation out of academia." Bromley predicted that available funding for research will continue to decrease until 2002 -- by which time 20 to 30 percent of graduate programs will have been shut down. Attempting to offset any future damage, Bromley said he hopes research organizations, including universities, will urge the government to keep funding steady. Noting that Bromley is an expert on the topic, Vice Provost for Research Ralph Amado said he had several good points.