In his presentation to the Council on Government Relations, Professor Emeritus Christopher T. Hill addresses the growing disconnect between society’s heightened expectations of American universities—particularly regarding their role in national and regional economic competitiveness—and the traditional systems for rewarding university institutions and faculty. He observes that while universities are increasingly called upon to contribute directly to economic development and technological innovation, their core rewards and recognition systems remain narrowly focused on education and research, neglecting areas such as technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and public service. This misalignment, Hill argues, is a significant source of financial and operational stress within higher education, as universities are expected to assume new responsibilities without commensurate adjustments in funding, institutional priorities, or faculty incentives.
Hill advocates for an "Academic New Deal," proposing a fundamental reexamination and restructuring of how both universities and their faculty are rewarded for their expanded societal roles. He suggests moving key activities such as technology transfer from the institutional periphery to the core, legitimizing them as essential functions and ensuring appropriate support and recognition. Using the Bayh-Dole Act as an example, he points out that mere expectations for university engagement in technology transfer, without adequate financial mechanisms, have often placed undue burdens on higher education institutions. Hill calls for reforms—including the integration of technology transfer outcomes into faculty promotion and tenure criteria, expanded state and federal support for university-based innovation, and cultural shifts within academia—to better align rewards with broader societal expectations. He acknowledges that such changes will encounter resistance and occur gradually, but emphasizes that evolving expectations and institutional adaptations are inevitable as the relationship between universities and society continues to change.
