- Does having college-wide standards hurt the colleges themselves and their autonomy? Does it create new problems?
- I really like idea of enlisting other campus professionals to help improve the educational process but how does this wok practically?
- The writer mentions a CD-Rom, which is clearly outdated. How relevant is his advice today? It is interesting that he is giving outdated practical advice, especially since he advocates long-term solutions.
- Interesting that change come as result of economic trouble – what else could galvanize people to change? The issues that are a problem now in higher education didn’t suddenly pop up, but they’re a big issues when money is involved.
- Kirp seems to be blaming students for promoting and/or encouraging this consumerism. Is that what he is doing? Is he correct that students play an important role here?
- Kirp contends that there are some schools where teaching still matters – is it true that in most schools it doesn’t? According to his standards, yes, but is there an objective measure by which one could say teaching matters or doesn’t matter to the faculty?
- Which one is causing the steep tuition rise – Administrative costs of professors?
Jonathan Edelstein Questions for 4/4/2013 —
1. Do you think that it is possible for colleges to remain competitive in terms of resources and research
and still cut costs to allow the brightest students access?
2. Moody’s notes that more students are opting to, “enter the workforce without the benefit of a college
education.” Do you think such a move would weaken the global economic competitiveness of the United
States with that of other nations, especially because the bulk of our GDP consists or highly skilled
services?
3. To what extent should the government intervene and subsidize college education? Should college
education be viewed as a public good especially now that it is practically required for most entry level
jobs and therefore should it be completely subsidized by the tax payers, like the public school
system is ?
4. Why do you think that the seemingly corrupt, exorbitant administrative fees in many colleges, like the
University of Colorado, are seldom challenged by students? Do you think information flow may
be a problem?
5. Many sates are moving away from need based aid. What do you think is an equitable balance in
which a college can have the best students attend, but also have disadvantaged students attend?
Perhaps the disadvantage students have just as high a potential as the more qualified students, but
were merely disadvantaged in their education and time commitment available for education.
6. Is it even ethical for someone who is born more intelligent and is also wealthy enough to afford a
college education to be given an even larger economic advantage through merit aid?