Page 151 - Crisis in Higher Education

122 • Crisis in Higher Education

purchase that applicants have made at this point in their young lives, and
looking forward, it is one of the most important decisions they will ever
make. Students and their support groups have the right and responsibility
to hold universities accountable for meeting their expectations.
An expectation is thinking that something should or may happen. For
example, if people work hard and contribute to their organization’s success,
they expect to be well compensated. If people drive recklessly, they may have
a fatal accident. When students apply to a university, they should have in
mind a set of outcomes/expectations that take place after four years of study
and $100,000 or more in expenses. Although students may have some things
in mind as they prepare for their university education, such as starting a new
adventure and enjoying more personal freedom, they should expect other
things by the time they graduate, including (1) to be in debt, (2) to have learned
enough to be employable, and (3) to find an interesting job that allows them
to earn enough money to pay their debt and lead a comfortable life.

6.1 CHANGING ATTITUDES

Students and their support groups are key players in transforming the
behavior of universities. To do so, they must change their attitude toward
universities from benevolent knowledge dispensers to providers of impor-
tant services. They must hold universities accountable for high costs, lim-
ited access, and other concerns, and they must make their feelings known
to universities, governments, and other oversight groups. They must shop
around, pursue discounts (scholarships), and pick their university base
on finding the best value (a combination of the right price and appropri-
ate benefits). They should consider and evaluate ways to earn and save
more money as well as keep educational costs low, so borrowing is greatly
reduced or eliminated. Long-term financial planning is a vehicle to identify
appropriate levels of earning and saving as well as to spend funds wisely.

6.1.1 Holding Universities Accountable
Three elements of cost have risen much faster than inflation: tuition, fees,
and learning materials. There are also activities that are not mandated
for universities, such as athletic programs and outreach and engagement,
which consume resources that should be spent on research and teaching.