How large public universities model their funding

Legal and political constraints keep academic, athletic, and other budgets largely separate.

University of Michigan students walk on campus. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

In yesterday’s post, “American higher education is adrift,” Matt proposed a reconsideration of the mission and goals of higher ed in this country, alongside a recalibration of the sector’s spending. He put it this way: “The University of Alabama lazy river and water sli…