looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched
for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major
source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,” says
Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a
69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do
well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a
distinctively American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The
fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.
Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on
government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising
student number. The decline in government support has made funding-raising an
increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry
for Americans.
In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend.
In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale
provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job
she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position.”
Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of
education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience
of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body.
Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.
62. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage?
A) Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S.
B) A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators.
C) American universities are enrolling more international students.
D) University presidents are paying more attention to funding-raising.
63. What is the chief consideration of American universities when hiring top-level
administrators?
A) The political correctness.
B) Their ability to raise funds.
C) Their fame in academic circles.
D) Their administrative experience.
64. What do we learn about European universities from the passage?
A) The tuitions they charge have been rising considerably.
B) Their operation is under strict government supervision.