Page 366 - Crisis in Higher Education

336 • Appendix B

B.1.1 Chapter 6: Changing Attitudes and Expectations of
Students, Parents, Family Members, and Friends

1. Change attitudes and expectation: Students, parent, other family
members, and friends should:
a. Hold universities accountable for high costs.
b. Press universities for improvements in effectiveness and efficiency.
c. Make government aware that cost reduction and efficiency apply
to high education.
d. Insist that universities not use tuition dollars to participate in
outreach and engagement.
2. Change thoughts and actions: Students, parents, other family mem-
bers, and friends should expect to graduate debt-free, which is sup-
ported by the following actions.
a. Develop a long-term financial plan for students’ education that
includes appropriate levels of earning and saving as well as
making good investments. The key is to start early.
b. Prepare and follow a budget so spending focuses on essential items.
c. Shop around, pursue scholarships, and pick a university based on
finding the best value.
d. Make decisions that keep educational costs low.
3. Create a Higher Education Pricing and Outcomes (HEPO) database:
This government regulated database would require universities to
provide accurate data on price, graduation rates, completion time,
passing rates on certification exams, and job placement, so appli-
cants make informed choices. The federal government has leverage
on all universities that accept their aid.

B.1.2 Chapter 7: Becoming Student Centered: The Right Way
1. Student-centered universities should take the following actions.
a. Offer services that are courteous, responsive, effective, and effi-
cient. Technology, lean thinking, and value stream mapping are
used to design and implement low-cost, innovative processes.
b. Change perspective on constructing new building and operational
actions, for which students, parents, and taxpayers ultimately pay.
i. Given the trend toward distance learning, construction of
dormitory and classroom facilities must be carefully exam-
ined and justified.