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Freedom and accountability have become buzzwords in the debate over post-secondary education. In a publicly funded university, you can't have one without the other.

Ed Doherty seems to understand this. As the minister of post-secondary education, he is accountable for how well universities meet students' needs. He's prepared to adopt the most substantial reforms in a generation for the sake of getting better results.

It's about time.

New Brunswickers started looking for a new PSE strategy nearly two years ago. There was extensive public consultation before the original PSE report in 2007, and a great deal of debate after. The final recommendations were written by a committee of university presidents and college principals. We can't think of another issue on which government has consulted the public and stakeholders this thoroughly.

The original PSE report was on the mark about 50 per cent of the time. Its serious weaknesses were identified through public debate, and the presidents' and principals' committee was asked to draw up a more effective plan. Those university presidents who now say they are opposed to the strategy are only indicting themselves.

The arguments advanced by faculty associations are no more persuasive. It sounds as though universities won't settle for anything less than a blank cheque. Union representatives have even compared the mission of their members to that of judges - a leap of logic the public cannot follow.

Freedom of speech and academic inquiry are essential elements of a university, and neither is threatened by the government's reforms. Recommendations in the PSE report and government's response are intended to make public universities more accountable on an administrative level. That's a far cry from policing what professors say.

Being accountable does not mean explaining how public funds have been spent, as some faculty members have argued. Being accountable means justifying the ongoing public investment. Has public funding helped New Brunswickers secure meaningful careers? Has it generated research that extends public knowledge or produces tangible benefits? Are graduates as skilled as their peers elsewhere? If not, what are administrators going to do about it?

New Brunswickers aren't funding universities as charity thinktanks. They're trying to create stronger communities and economic opportunities. Public funding is an investment - and, like any investment, it needs to be monitored.

The province's political leaders are prepared to be held accountable for their contribution to higher education. The government will face an election in the autumn of 2010; if the public isn't satisfied with how funding for post-secondary education is being allocated, Minister Doherty and other Liberal MLAs will be turfed.

That's more than one can say for the province's university presidents and faculties.