In a recent New York Times oped Fish holds forth about the need for “increased funding, tuition raises and high-profile faculty” in the Florida public university system. He’s very bothered that the system has the “lowest tuition and highest student-faculty ratio” in the nation.

But renowned word-maven Fish is silent about what he means by the “first-class schooling” that is supposed to flow automatically from all the increased spending.

Tackle the tough questions, Professor Fish: What constitutes an excellent undergraduate education? And by what means should colleges demonstrate to the public that they are providing such education?

Limiting the discussion to inputs is simply pandering to higher education special interests – taking the easy way out. Academics of Fish’s stature owe the American people more than this.