Inside Higher Ed Publishes Op-ed by UK's Thelin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2015) — John Thelin, professor of educational policy studies and evaluation in the University of Kentucky College of Education, authored an opinion piece on perpetual endowments published Nov. 5 in Inside Higher Ed.  

In the piece, headlined "Forever Is a Long, Long Time," Thelin said colleges should rethink perpetual endowments that honor the donor but thwart good stewardship today.

"Endowments need to be reconceived as organic, comparable to the college’s garden," Thelin wrote. "As such, they need continual care in weeding and seeding."

He invites higher education institutions to consider working with donors so that each gift has an appropriate life span to accomplish a worthy and timely educational goal.

Thelin, whose teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy, is co-author, with Richard Trollinger, of "Philanthropy and American Higher Education."

To read the opinion piece, visit https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/11/03/perpetual-endowments-can-thwart-colleges-educational-and-charitable-goals-essay. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu