Debate emerges over costs associated with academic conferences

Many scholars who are off the tenure track have long criticized the high costs associated with attending academic conferences, writes Colleen Flaherty. But a new round of criticism has come from tenure-track and tenured professors, with a number proposing less expensive ways for academics to meet and exchange ideas. The article cites assistant research professor Pamela Gay, who argues in a recent article that conference costs are essentially no-interest loans made by a faculty member to their university, due to the benefit the university derives from these costs and the length of time it takes to reimburse them—if they do so at all. ““We need to stop being silent,” Gay adds, “and start recognizing that academia taxes people for the right to keep and advance their careers.” Inside Higher Ed | Medium (Gay Article)