Page 175 - Crisis in Higher Education

146 • Crisis in Higher Education

even likely, that donors would be willing to contribute to scholarships,
which helps students and universities, or to other worthy projects rather
than to new buildings.
The first step toward a solution is to ask: Does the university need more
new buildings? The answer may be no for several reasons.

1. Even if enrollment continues to grow, the trend toward distance
learning, where students do not attend classes on campus, will con-
tinue. Fewer students on campus mean fewer dormitories, eating
establishments, parking structures, and classrooms.
2. Some have asked whether universities should outsource student
housing to private companies. These companies could manage
existing dormitories and likely build new ones more cheaply than
universities. Let these organizations invest the capital and take the
risk of offering student housing, and allow universities to focus on
education.
3. If universities are really student centered, they would not require
students who are not within a reasonable commuting distance to live
on campus.
4. If universities change pedagogy to achieve student-centered learn-
ing, the new methods may require less classroom time and more
time on the Internet, which means fewer classrooms, more capable
computer networks, and high-speed data delivery across multiple
platforms.
5. Administration has grown rapidly, and it has placed a huge cost bur-
2
den on universities. If and when this is addressed, there should be
less demand for office space and parking garages.

The second step is to ask: If the university needs more buildings, how
can they be designed and built to be functional, attractive, and cost less.
At public universities, future construction must come under careful scru-
tiny by the university, state government, and the general public. This
cannot be left to universities alone because senior leaders, especially presi-
dents, like to point toward striking new buildings as major accomplish-
ments that are part of their lasting legacy and a key factor in securing their
next job. Not building or building only modestly is not a point of pride
that attracts praise.
Amenities, like sports programs, student newspapers, clubs, and recre-
ation centers, are paid for by student activity fees, which do not, at least