I'm posting some old letters to the editor. This is so I can remember what I wrote, and to keep myself honest. I'm posting them in the order I wrote them so this goes back a couple of years.
The more things change….
This is from the Summer of 2013 and a response to an Aspen Times Editorial from Melanie Sturm
The more things change….
This is from the Summer of 2013 and a response to an Aspen Times Editorial from Melanie Sturm
When I think of higher education in relation to expense my question is "Who pays the most to study in a US University?" The answer has to be the International Student. I'm not just talking money (there's plenty of that) I'm talking the cost of traveling half way around the world, leaving your family, adjusting to a completely different Culture.
Why would anyone take that enormous risk without a promise of great reward?
Why would anyone take that enormous risk without a promise of great reward?
To help me find the answer I went to the Institute of International Education which has some fascinating reports on line. What should get everyone's attention is $22+ billion dollars contributed to the US economy from foreign students. Another item of interest is that majority of our foreign students were already employed in their home country before they applied to a US University.
So, why do they come?
The report "An analysis of international students' motivations for studying in the United States." offers some insights. Yes, we rank high because of Scholarship/Grant help. But we're the hardest country (according to the survey) in which to get a Visa (Europe is much easier) and have a low rating in the "Do you feel safe?" category and we don't even get a mention for Culture and Arts. Most of our foreign students come here for Tech and Business degrees.
What's the attraction? More to the point- where do we rank higher than the EU/UK?
Although foreign students feel less safe here than in Europe they feel we are more "welcoming". They see more diversity, better facilities, and a much better chance of getting a job back home with a US degree than an EU degree. We rank high in prestige , support and quality and low on tradition. That means we're flexible- at least compared to the student's home Country.
We are still seen as a land of opportunity by the rest of the World. Now, how do we continue to offer that opportunity to our Citizens?
The suggestions of more vocational opportunities, extended time frames and digital aides (like Khan Academy) are certainly welcome. However, the fewer students the higher the tuition for those who remain.
Our current system rewards the University which is affiliated with 'for profit' and 'non- profit' partners. Their Academic status qualifies them for grants. Their non-profit partners provide a place for research to continue post-grad. The research facilities feed results to the 'for profit' company. The 'for profit' Company then donates a tax deductible scholarship to the University. When this model is really successful the 'for profit' company is a direct spin off from the non-profit (RMI and Fiber Forge*) That is how our Tech/Business schools survive and continue to grow. Even our testing programs in K-12 are geared to fit into this Tech/Business model. They don't do it well, but that's the intent.
What that leaves out of the mix is everything else, the Trades, Humanities and the Arts.
Let's play to our strengths. We're told we're more innovative, flexible and open than the rest of the world and this is the golden triangle which supports our reputation. Surely we can devise a system which is also innovative, flexible and open. We've never bought ourselves out of trouble, we need to think our way out
What's the attraction? More to the point- where do we rank higher than the EU/UK?
Although foreign students feel less safe here than in Europe they feel we are more "welcoming". They see more diversity, better facilities, and a much better chance of getting a job back home with a US degree than an EU degree. We rank high in prestige , support and quality and low on tradition. That means we're flexible- at least compared to the student's home Country.
We are still seen as a land of opportunity by the rest of the World. Now, how do we continue to offer that opportunity to our Citizens?
The suggestions of more vocational opportunities, extended time frames and digital aides (like Khan Academy) are certainly welcome. However, the fewer students the higher the tuition for those who remain.
Our current system rewards the University which is affiliated with 'for profit' and 'non- profit' partners. Their Academic status qualifies them for grants. Their non-profit partners provide a place for research to continue post-grad. The research facilities feed results to the 'for profit' company. The 'for profit' Company then donates a tax deductible scholarship to the University. When this model is really successful the 'for profit' company is a direct spin off from the non-profit (RMI and Fiber Forge*) That is how our Tech/Business schools survive and continue to grow. Even our testing programs in K-12 are geared to fit into this Tech/Business model. They don't do it well, but that's the intent.
What that leaves out of the mix is everything else, the Trades, Humanities and the Arts.
Let's play to our strengths. We're told we're more innovative, flexible and open than the rest of the world and this is the golden triangle which supports our reputation. Surely we can devise a system which is also innovative, flexible and open. We've never bought ourselves out of trouble, we need to think our way out
*note from 2014: Sadly this did not end well as I found out from a former employee when we had a long chat in the Mill Street Mall.
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