Reply #68: If you haven't worked in higher ed, you really have no clue...

[Xithras]

When I retire, I'm seriously considering writing a novel about the things I've seen in these hallowed halls. The professor who impregnated two students at once. The student aid who was caught giving out "grade enhancements" in exchange for blowjobs. The group of sophomores who were once caught doing "wager-scores" with the high school girls at the on-campus charter high school (i.e. 19 & 20 year old guys bedding 14-17 year old girls, and the guy who "scored" the most each month got money). The stories go on, and on, and on.

It's extremely rare that any of it ever gets discussed outside of the institution, and it's NEVER reported to the police. Why? Reputation. Reputation is the single most important asset that any college or university has. In the end, they all offer essentially the same product, so they rely on their prestige and reputation to attract students. If something besmirches that reputation, it doesn't get made public. EVER. It's actually IN MY CONTRACT that I can be terminated for any actions that "bring shame or disrepute upon the institution". That includes reporting things to the police and press. According to my contract, any crimes located on campus must be reported to the campus police, and they will contact the local PD if needed (the only exceptions are for "life in danger" situations). And absolutely NOTHING gets reported to the local media without first being approved by our Public Affairs office. Violating these rules gets you fired. And once you get fired from one academic institution, finding a job elsewhere is nearly impossible. Nobody wants to touch a college prof who has been fired for cause. They can't ask why you were fired, so they must assume the worst. It's a career killer.