Page 169 - Crisis in Higher Education

140 • Crisis in Higher Education

8. Eroding standards (root cause 8): Students, their parents, other
family members, and friends should demand to have more learning
and higher performance standards, which would benefit students
in their life after graduation.
9. Lack of student preparation (root cause 9): When parents under-
stand what is expected from their children by universities, they
are more likely to help their grade school and high school stu-
dents understand the value of being well prepared to succeed in
college.

6.5 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Following is a list of the key recommendations that comprise this element
of the solution.

1. Students, parent, other family members, and friends should change
their attitude toward universities from benevolent dispensers of
knowledge to providers of a key service. They must:
a. Press universities for improvements in effectiveness and efficiency.
b. Hold universities accountable for high costs, limited access, and
the other problems facing higher education. This is relevant for
sports programs, which can consume tuition dollars.
c. Universities should not participate in outreach and engagement
using tuition dollars. Government or other sources must provide
special funding if universities are to participate.
d. Make their feelings known to government and other oversight
groups, so additional pressure is brought to bear.
e. Shop around, pursue discounts, and pick their university based
on finding the best value.
f. Consider and evaluate ways to earn and save more money as well
as keep educational costs low, so borrowing is greatly reduced or
eliminated.
2. Government would create a database of HEPO that offers informa-
tion about costs, graduation rates, completion time, passing rates for
licensure and certification exams, and job placement. This should
help applicants make informed choices.