Page 346 - Crisis in Higher Education

316 • Crisis in Higher Education

15.2 OVERVIEW OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
AND INTEGRATED SOLUTION

These problems are systemic, and they directly and negatively impact the
mission of institutions. Elements of the solution, which are described in
detail in Chapters 6 through 14, focus on customers, curriculum, and
resources. As Figure 15.5 illustrates, needs of the trifurcated customer
determine curriculum content, standards, and pedagogy, which, in turn,
determine what resources to acquire and how to use them. Each element
in the solution has a set of recommendations, which is summarized at the
end of each chapter, compiled in Appendix A, and organized by underly-
ing problem in Appendix B.
To get the attention of institutions of higher learning, customers must
take an active role. It is essential for students, parent, other family mem-
bers, and friends to change their attitude and treat colleges and universi-
ties like they would any other producer of goods or services. They must
consider cost, seek the best deal, and press institutions to improve effec-
tiveness and efficiency. They should develop a long-term plan for spending
on higher education; pursue ways to improve earnings; save more money;
hunt for scholarships; and work toward a goal of graduating debt-free.
Universities must become student centered, which means treating stu-
dents with respect and working with them to develop a detailed plan of
study, so they graduate in four years. But it also means demanding the
highest level of performance from students, limiting investment in facili-
ties to keep costs low, not requiring students to live in campus dormito-
ries even as first-year students, and making student activity fees optional.

Customers Resources
Chapter 6: Changing attitude and Chapter 11: Administration and
expectation management
Chapter 10:
Chapter 7: Student-centered Redesigning Chapter 12: Faculty
Chapter 8: Potential employer, curriculum and Chapter 13: Learn materials
graduate schools, and licensure pedagogy Chapter 14: Revamping
and certification agencies relationship with high schools,
Chapter 9: Government and community and technical
colleges

FIGURE 15.5
Customer needs determine curriculum and pedagogy that drive resource acquisition
and allocation.