For decades, our higher education leaders have generally ignored the criticisms coming from the right. They were certain that our colleges and universities were doing their best to save the world.

At last, a few higher ed leaders are realizing that there is some truth in what we have been saying about politicization, declining standards, and so on. Two recent reports, one from Yale, the other from Vanderbilt and Washington University, show a remarkable willingness to face reality.

I write about those reports in today’s Martin Center article.

The Yale report looks into the reasons for the serious decline of trust in higher education and it acknowledges that “echo chambers do not produce the best teaching, research, or scholarship.” Good observation! That is just what students often encounter these days.

In the same vein, the Yale report concludes that the university has lost its sense of purpose, which is to say providing a forum for the pursuit of truth and robust debate.

The Vanderbilt/Washington U. report focuses on the decline of objectivity in academic research, particularly in the humanities. It points especially at fields such as anthropology where the politicization is blatant. Its recommendations are tepid, but there is much value in having a serious study saying that politicized scholarship is a bad development.