Even the Left Admits the Red-State Faculty “Brain-Drain” Never Happened

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 23, 2024 | Grace Hall

[karpov]

Much “news” today consists of quick, divisive headlines with little regard for complexity or subtlety. A prominent example is the rapid firestorm that surrounded the conservative governments of Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia last year when some faculty loudly expressed their dissatisfaction with right-leaning higher-ed reforms. Having consulted an American Association of University Professors (AAUP) survey on the subject, media everywhere ran with the notion that red-state faculty would soon be fleeing, with many outlets printing articles claiming a “brain-drain” would soon occur.

The AAUP survey in question, conducted last fall, attempted to understand whether and why faculty members in the aforementioned states were considering leaving. An Inside Higher Ed article from earlier this year helpfully summarizes the news coverage with which the report was met:

'Headlines in major publications quickly followed [the survey’s appearance]. The Chronicle of Higher Education published “In These Red States, Professors Are Eyeing the Exits”; the Tampa Bay Times led with “New laws in Florida and elsewhere are pushing faculty to leave, survey says”; and the Texas Tribune used “Texas’ political environment driving faculty to leave, survey finds.”'

As IHE tersely notes, “Public skepticism of the survey was rare.”

Yet, now that the dust has settled, some outlets are being more cautious in their coverage of faculty sentiment in red states. According to the same Inside Higher Ed article, the New York Times’s most recent headline refers modestly to “some” Florida faculty who are dissatisfied with the state. Compared to the initial headlines, this editorial caution seems significant.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Same as the scores of Hollywood actors and musicians who said they would leave the USA if so-and-so got elected or some conservative initiate passed. Never happened.

Lots of bluster and empty threats, but they never follow through. Even though we would be a LOT better off if they did follow through.

[Carry_Okie]

Those States should "drain" much of their university faculties, forcibly, with special emphasis upon teachers' colleges.

With all due dispatch, and extra swirl, please.

[Languager]

The job market for most faculty in humanities and social sciences is pretty bad; most couldn’t leave if they tried.

[PortugeeJoe]

If some Professors resign from red State Colleges and move to Hell States it would IMPROVE the Red State Colleges. We should be encouraging this!!!

[Albion Wilde]

Why did these prognosticators think those professors chose careers in red states to begin with?