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Why Colleges Are Failing

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redcedarmedia

The document summarizes an article from the New York Times about low college graduation rates in the US. It notes that only 50% of US students complete a bachelor's degree, and cites potential causes like inadequate pre-college education, colleges prioritizing enrollment over completion, and lower-income students attending lower-quality schools. It also provides suggestions to address the problem, such as making education more affordable and changing cultural perceptions about the acceptability of dropping out.

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Why are U.S. Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Editorial by Kevin Zielinski Copyright 息 2009, Red Cedar Media LLC Excerpt of David Leonhardt article posted September 8, 2009, NYTIMES.COM
Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? New York Times Article: Sept. 8, 2009 David Leonhardts article posted on NYTIMES.COM cites the following data on U.S. college graduation rates: Only 50% of U.S. students that enroll in U.S. colleges and universities end up with a Bachelors degree. Among richer nations, only Italy has a worse record for graduating its students. The new book Crossing the Finish Line identifies potential causes of this poor record, based on a study of 200,000 students at 68 U.S. colleges o Inadequate pre-college education o Colleges focus on enrollment (with funding tied to enrollment) rather than completion o Well-off students vs. lower-income students Well-off students attend schools that graduate students as their norm Lower-income students under-match (select schools with lesser quality/reputation than the students are eligible for) Lower-income students gravitate toward colleges with higher dropout rates
Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Potential Remedies? David Leonhardts article cites several possible solutions to the problem of declining graduation rates: Money is part of the answer make higher education and better schools more affordable to lower-income students, so economics is not a reason for under-matching or for dropping out. Reverse the cultural perception about failure dropping out is not acceptable Reverse the belief that graduation can take more than four years graduation deferred is often graduation unrealized Maintain incentives for keeping underclass students enrolled, even though they are , in mass, cheaper to educate.
Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? And What About the Educators? While the Leonhardt article offers a very plausible argument about the graduation problem and potential solutions, consider this: The primary objective of some (many?) institutions is not educating/graduating students it is RESEARCH. o Rewards and accolades come to faculty members that bring in major research grants, NOT those who teach well and pass the most students. o To some faculty members, teaching is not something to be perfected or optimized A common assumption made by college departments is because a faculty member has a Ph.D., they must be able to teach! o Rarely do college faculty (tenured, associate or adjunct) get trained in how to teach effectively, including the creation of challenging-yet-fair exams, lesson planning, use of effective media, etc. o Rarely do college faculty get audited, evaluated or reprimanded for lack of teaching ability o Certification to teach college is not required (as it is for elementary and secondary educators) only a post-graduate degree or doctorate.
Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Additional Recommendations to Improve College Graduation Rates Require all faculty, except for the school of Education, to be given training in how to teach a college course o College faculty will learn to make courses interesting for their students, challenging-yet-fair, and show concern for their learning thus helping reduce dropout rates. Evaluate all faculty for their ability to convey course information, create exams, manage their class, etc., periodically over time o Keep the focus and rewards on high quality instruction and education rather than research. Ensure there is adequate monitoring of student performance throughout each semester/quarter (esp. at the early stages of any course) o Identify stragglers early, identify appropriate remedial action(s), and motivate each student to perform as expected.
Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Your Thoughts? Red Cedar Media LLC offers consultation and courseware for college faculty that will give them the tools to truly educate effectively. For more information or to express your own opinions, please contact: www.redcedarmedia.com (web site) kevin@redcedarmedia.com (e-mail)

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Why Colleges Are Failing

  • 1. Why are U.S. Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Editorial by Kevin Zielinski Copyright 息 2009, Red Cedar Media LLC Excerpt of David Leonhardt article posted September 8, 2009, NYTIMES.COM
  • 2. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? New York Times Article: Sept. 8, 2009 David Leonhardts article posted on NYTIMES.COM cites the following data on U.S. college graduation rates: Only 50% of U.S. students that enroll in U.S. colleges and universities end up with a Bachelors degree. Among richer nations, only Italy has a worse record for graduating its students. The new book Crossing the Finish Line identifies potential causes of this poor record, based on a study of 200,000 students at 68 U.S. colleges o Inadequate pre-college education o Colleges focus on enrollment (with funding tied to enrollment) rather than completion o Well-off students vs. lower-income students Well-off students attend schools that graduate students as their norm Lower-income students under-match (select schools with lesser quality/reputation than the students are eligible for) Lower-income students gravitate toward colleges with higher dropout rates
  • 3. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Potential Remedies? David Leonhardts article cites several possible solutions to the problem of declining graduation rates: Money is part of the answer make higher education and better schools more affordable to lower-income students, so economics is not a reason for under-matching or for dropping out. Reverse the cultural perception about failure dropping out is not acceptable Reverse the belief that graduation can take more than four years graduation deferred is often graduation unrealized Maintain incentives for keeping underclass students enrolled, even though they are , in mass, cheaper to educate.
  • 4. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? And What About the Educators? While the Leonhardt article offers a very plausible argument about the graduation problem and potential solutions, consider this: The primary objective of some (many?) institutions is not educating/graduating students it is RESEARCH. o Rewards and accolades come to faculty members that bring in major research grants, NOT those who teach well and pass the most students. o To some faculty members, teaching is not something to be perfected or optimized A common assumption made by college departments is because a faculty member has a Ph.D., they must be able to teach! o Rarely do college faculty (tenured, associate or adjunct) get trained in how to teach effectively, including the creation of challenging-yet-fair exams, lesson planning, use of effective media, etc. o Rarely do college faculty get audited, evaluated or reprimanded for lack of teaching ability o Certification to teach college is not required (as it is for elementary and secondary educators) only a post-graduate degree or doctorate.
  • 5. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Additional Recommendations to Improve College Graduation Rates Require all faculty, except for the school of Education, to be given training in how to teach a college course o College faculty will learn to make courses interesting for their students, challenging-yet-fair, and show concern for their learning thus helping reduce dropout rates. Evaluate all faculty for their ability to convey course information, create exams, manage their class, etc., periodically over time o Keep the focus and rewards on high quality instruction and education rather than research. Ensure there is adequate monitoring of student performance throughout each semester/quarter (esp. at the early stages of any course) o Identify stragglers early, identify appropriate remedial action(s), and motivate each student to perform as expected.
  • 6. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students? Your Thoughts? Red Cedar Media LLC offers consultation and courseware for college faculty that will give them the tools to truly educate effectively. For more information or to express your own opinions, please contact: www.redcedarmedia.com (web site) kevin@redcedarmedia.com (e-mail)