U.S. Universities Not So Hot
U.S. Universities Not So Hot
Discussions of the U.S. education system have routinely praised its universities and bemoaned the state of K-12 schooling, but a commission appointed by education secretary Margaret Spellings is finding that all is not well in higher education. Although the best U.S. universities are the best in the world, quality is not universal.
The draft states that “American higher education has become what, in the business world, would be called a mature enterprise: increasingly risk-averse, frequently self-satisfied, and unduly expensive…. It has yet to successfully confront the impact of globalization, rapidly evolving technologies, an increasingly diverse and aging population, and an evolving marketplace characterized by new needs and new paradigms.” Among the commission’s findings:
Inadequate preparation and financial barriers prevent too many young people from completing college.
One reason for the rising cost of higher education is that universities pay too little attention to efficiency and productivity.
The overall quality of student learning is inadequate and declining.
Although scholars value transparency, precision, and rigor in their academic work, the higher education system does not apply these standards to the university enterprise.
The commission has posted a draft version of its report for comment. The final version is likely to be more temperate than the draft, so take a look at the draft while it is available. You’ll find it at http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports.html.
Commission members include former University of Michigan president James Duderstadt, former MIT president Chuck Vest, IBM executive vice president Nicholas Donofrio, former North Carolina governor James B. Hunt, Jr., and Education Trust director Kati Haycock. You can find more information about the commission at
http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/index.html.
Discussions of the U.S. education system have routinely praised its universities and bemoaned the state of K-12 schooling, but a commission appointed by education secretary Margaret Spellings is finding that all is not well in higher education. Although the best U.S. universities are the best in the world, quality is not universal.
The draft states that “American higher education has become what, in the business world, would be called a mature enterprise: increasingly risk-averse, frequently self-satisfied, and unduly expensive…. It has yet to successfully confront the impact of globalization, rapidly evolving technologies, an increasingly diverse and aging population, and an evolving marketplace characterized by new needs and new paradigms.” Among the commission’s findings:
Inadequate preparation and financial barriers prevent too many young people from completing college.
One reason for the rising cost of higher education is that universities pay too little attention to efficiency and productivity.
The overall quality of student learning is inadequate and declining.
Although scholars value transparency, precision, and rigor in their academic work, the higher education system does not apply these standards to the university enterprise.
The commission has posted a draft version of its report for comment. The final version is likely to be more temperate than the draft, so take a look at the draft while it is available. You’ll find it at http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports.html.
Commission members include former University of Michigan president James Duderstadt, former MIT president Chuck Vest, IBM executive vice president Nicholas Donofrio, former North Carolina governor James B. Hunt, Jr., and Education Trust director Kati Haycock. You can find more information about the commission at
http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/index.html.
posted by Kevin Finneran at
9:12 AM
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