Since education has become big business, the reactions of the academic community to social change are of immense political and social effect. Therefore, before higher education can deal with the question of accountability, it has to define the role of the college or university in relation to society. One alternative is that the campus operate as an absolutely insulated entity, the other is for the institution of higher education to be completely responsive to the state. The proper answer to this dilemma lies somewhere between the two extremes, with the college or university assuming dual roles. To make administrators accountable they must be responsible. Education is too important to be monopolized by educators, and its mission should be determined by society. The only way to guarantee the mission of higher education is carried out is to make administrators fully accountable to society. Concern should be with administrative freedom of action if our administrators are to be responsible for effective management. (Author/PG)
