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Back to the basics
Once upon a time, students went to college to study. The dorm rooms were small, the number of clubs and activities minimal, and the cafeteria food... well, it was comestible. Then began the arms race to offer ever more lavish services to students: climbing walls, gourmet food courts open 24 hours a day, comfy suites. Not surprisingly, tuition shot up, eating up an ever greater chunk of family incomes and leaving students saddled with colossal debts.
ACTA therefore greets with delight the news that the Pennsylvania State Board of Education has just approved a proposal to create "low cost, no frills" four-year colleges -- in response to student demand. The state, which ranks sixth in the nation in college cost, would adapt the community college model to a four-year institution and offer year-round courses without all the budget-draining extras.
Regardless of the outcome, trustees whose institutions are feeling the pinch would be well to take note of this innovative proposal, not to mention the state board's pledge to remove costly and unnecessary mandates from the colleges they oversee.
Posted by David Azerrad on January 29, 2009 at January 29, 2009 02:50 PM
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