That’s the argument made by former college presidents William G. Bowen and Eugene M. Tobin in their new book Locus of Authority, reviewed by George Leef in today’s Pope Center feature. Bowen and Tobin say that technological advancement and shifting economic conditions demand greater flexibility, or “nimbleness,” on the part of colleges and universities. Unfortunately, hidebound faculty, who wield significant decision-making influence, frequently oppose and obstruct initiatives aimed at cutting costs, reforming curricula, or providing online education. It is therefore necessary, the authors write, for university control “to be…unambiguously in the hands of senior administrators with campus, university, and sector-wide perspectives – who can and should be held accountable for their decisions.”