[needle]

The Stanford "enterprise" has grown from having a $4.4 billion budget in 2012-13 to now having an $8.2 billion budget.

Should any university be so large?

Speaking generally, people in charge of major universities tend to view their legacy as tied to growth, expansion and new initiatives. They want to continue to add programs and "infrastructure." 

But I think the modern major research university is simply too large and unwieldy to be run effectively using the same governance structure as in decades past. The governance of a president, provost and faculty (and certainly a trustees board composed of non-experts) works best when it has a focus on the "enterprise" of educating students and properly supporting research tied to the strengths of faculty.

[needle]

The Stanford "enterprise" has grown from having a $4.4 billion budget in 2012-13 to now having an $8.2 billion budget.

Should any university be so large?

Speaking generally, people in charge of major universities tend to view their legacy as tied to growth, expansion and new initiatives. They want to continue to add programs and "infrastructure." 

But I think the modern major research university is simply too large and unwieldy to be run effectively using the same governance structure as in decades past. The governance of a president, provost and faculty (and certainly a trustees board composed of non-experts) works best when it has a focus on the "enterprise" of educating students and properly supporting research tied to the strengths of faculty.