University

Assumption University

Started Honours History Moved to Honours Economics and

Political Science for second year Required courses – English, Speech,

Philosophy, Economics in first year Active in Politics at University Became University of Windsor my last

year

University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science Probably learned more in one year of study Got to attend lectures by Hicks, Harrod,

Galbraith, etc. No courses – graduate seminar in Public

finance with all grad students and faculty in Public Finance

Four four hour examinations in two days in June (theory, methods, Public Finance) externally set

56% of class graduated, 44% failure

University of Alberta

Arrived Alberta three days after getting married, wife enrolled in education diploma and I in Ph.D.

Because I graduated LSE, they asked me as my Teaching Assistantship to teach a section of Introductory Economics(1 of 20)

In my four comprehensive papers, I did one in Federalism, other three in Economics

First experience teaching

Students were at University because they wanted to be

My first class wrote a common final which I as a part-time faculty was not permitted to grade

My class did best of any of sections and I got highest teacher ratings of any of sections

I probably learned more than the students Section at 8 a.m., still dark in Edmonton

Waterloo Lutheran University

Arrived summer 1969, bought first house Taught second year macro, public finance,

and fourth year research seminar Taught 3-hour Saturday class in public

finance University became Wilfrid Laurier

University in fall 1973

Served as Senator four terms Served as Director Instructional

Development Served as President of WLUFA and

chief negotiator of faculty wages Asked by colleagues to run to be Chair

of Economics Department twice but declined

Students

First students were bright, enthusiastic Student strikes – not as quickly here as it had

been at other Universities As WLU started to gain reputation and our

cut-off for admission got higher, we started to get more bookworms

Then, students became more well-rounded Finally, in last ten years the emphasis on

grades without learning has made the University a less-exciting place to be

Observations about University

When I first came to WLU, there was an emphasis on colleaguial decision-making and a cost-efficient operation

Once Dr. Peters retired, and government grants fed our surpluses, administration started to grow and the faculty and students lost the voice they had

What have I learned

Most of it outside classroom Most of student office time is spent on

personal problems (marriage, etc) about which I had no training

Having a balanced life is important –being a bookworm makes you a boring person Cubs, scouts, church, volunteer Doing these things forces time management

What is important in studies is: Thinking Organizing Communicating Researching

There is too much emphasis on memorizing a set of material

Having friends is important Your legacy to the world will be those few

people you impact Family Friend(s) Perhaps someone you have led or taught or been

boss for Your honour (your word being truthful and reliable)

Issues for Academia in Future

Getting back to being Institutions of Thought

Integrity The lack of honesty in doing assignments

and examinations

Should University be for everyone? Pros and cons

Your legacy to the world is not likely to be: Your work Your accomplishments Your money Your assets