Page 353 - Crisis in Higher Education

Appendix A: Compilation

of the Recommendations

The nine elements of the solution are discussed in Chapters 6 through 14,
and the specific recommendations, which are summaries at the end of each
chapter, are compiled here for the convenience of the reader. This allows a
quick review of the ideas that comprise the solution. Because the solution
is comprehensive and integrated, some recommendations are discussed in
more than one chapter, so they may appear in the list more than once.

A.1 CHAPTER 6: CHANGING ATTITUDES AND
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS, PARENTS,
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS

1. Students, parents, 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 base 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.

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