Globalization of Knowledge - Universities are no longer the keepers of knowledge. The Internet has changed the dynamics of knowledge commodities. Studies have proven that when the Internet gets involved in a commodity, the prices begin to fall. This will effect our patients as well as students. The identity separation among the schools is still very prevalent with an increasing move towards insularity.
Loyalty remains at the department level and typically goes no further than the school level.
To thwart this growing trend, the university could increase interdisciplinary approaches to all of the mission areas. The creation of joint projects, appointments, joint degrees and courses using new technology would enhance the cooperation among the schools. The difficulties with interdisciplinary programs will lie in the fields of patient care and research. These are much more separatist and perhaps difficult to bring into the interdisciplinary approach. The financial problems currently within the Medical School are creating low morale for many of the clinicians.