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Higher Ed: What the Money Buys

AIR DATE: Friday, January 9th 2009
Download the mp3 for this show.
Are students and taxpayers getting what they pay for at Oregon universities?

Tomorrow we'll broadcast the second hour of last night's live-audience higher education special. If the first part of the conversation was largely about how public universities will make ends meet in the middle of recession, the second part was more free-wheeling: the presidents from the U of O, OSU, PSU, and Eastern Oregon University took on everything from how to balance affordability and quality to the relationship between athletics and academics. They even shared personal memories about what stands out from their own college experiences.

The show was obviously recorded in advance, but the online conversation is still live -- here and below. Jump in.

Photo credit: Michael Clapp / OPB News>

There is a glut of college educated workers on the market. There are many other hands-on jobs which pay more than these kids will ever see as political science, etc. majors. Their destiny is sedentary, boring office drone jobs. College is a racket and big business. Look at the smile on your plumber's face when you write a $50 check to them to just show up and look at your pipes. Go trades
portland up —
Good program overall.
However most people exit the education system at the end of High School and do not pursue degrees though they often take courses in various real world applicable skills and or education.
Today's higher education system virtually ignores these people; though the Community Collages trys to serve this majority of the population.
I am not advocating cutting back on the existing higher education system I am advocating increasing the emphasis on the "Higher Education" entities that actually serve the majority of the state population.
Desolation —
I can't believe how arrogant and boisterous some of the guest speakers were... I have returned to OR private Higher Ed after a 30 yr stint working in the trenches of international business. It is certain these administrators are as clueless as their proteges in addressing the true needs of higher education. Very similar to business (Surprise) and Government (more surprise). Caught in their own little empires, they march on to the ruination of many (and a major waste of time and money for students).

Thanks Corine from yesterday's post- "Universities shouldn't have to teach students things that they should have earned in high school! ...I also went to a university in Germany (with no tuition fees ) for 2 years and those students were hard working and very serious. Higher education may not be for everyone and that is okay...education is a privilege!""

As has happened with manuf / IT / medical... and next EDU >> Outsource it, the USA system is not 'world class' by any means, and even tho we still enjoy the 'draw' of foreign students... Your (USA Higher ed) days are numbered, and rightfully so. Get serious about edu... or get out of the way ! (that is your job... right?)
jwswamp —

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