Many people believe that a college or university is just like a business. Students pay a fee (tuition) for a service (education). However, there are components than just these things to take into consideration and things are not always as clear and simple as some believe. There are several organizational models from which businesses and schools can operate, but the nature of academic governance is a unique one, and a school cannot always be treated as a traditional business for many reasons.
One of the reasons the comparison between a university and a business is a complex one, and one of much debate, is that the educational world is distinctive unto itself. There are many factors to be considered, and whenever you have the combination of money and people involved, things become more complicated. E. Gordon Gee, the former president of Ohio State University, discussed the uniqueness of the educational arena in an April 29, 2008 interview. In his interview, Dr. Gee said that one of the problems with colleges is that they “all want to be like each other” when they cannot. (Gee, 2008). He said that sameness leads to “mediocrity” but that schools in a state should try to work together in order to create a “systemic approach” (Gee, 2008). In a state, universities are an “economic engine” and that if they work collaboratively, the universities within one state can take on a more active public leadership role (Gee, 2008). Dr. Gee believes that businesses and other organizations should take this approach and that it helps “create relevance” for an organization, especially a university (Gee, 2008). This view of collaboration led to Dr. Gee being appointed by Ohio Governor Kasich to lead a seven member commission tasked with d...
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...lines for a successful presidency. (Paul Fain, Interviewer) [Audio file]. Retrieved from The Chronicle of Higher Education website: http://chronicle.com/article/Audio-Gordon-Gees-Guidelines/63338/
Gee, G. & Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, W.C. (2006). A convergence of corporate and academic governance. Trusteeship, 14(6), 24-27. Retrieved from ERIC, EBSCOhost on November 26, 2013
Lohmann, S. (2004). Can’t the university be more like business?. Economics of Governance, 5(1), 9-27. Doi:10.1007/s10101-003-0067-1.
TEDxTalks. (November 18, 2011). TEDxLondon – Dougald Hine. Retrieved November 21, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqVrlUKltII
Winston, G. C. (1997, Sep). Why can't a college be more like a firm? Change, 29, 32-38.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/208057952? accountid=28180
On the other hand, I believe that parents and the students are the one that will create the new standards for colleges to be chosen. Why do I think this way and disagree with Kevin Carey? I disagree with him because business, whether for profit or non-profit, will not change a marketing strategy if they see it is working. Colleges will only change if they see that consumers are changing. Yes, colleges will try to distract consumers with amenities. But, if consumers look for the information they need colleges will give it to them. The reason this works is because students will go to a college that will supply them with their demands, the law of supply and
College is marketed towards students as an essential part of building a successful future. The United States “sells college” to those who are willing to buy into the business (Lee 671). With the massive amounts of student debts acquired every year, and the rising costs of
Financial exigency in the higher education industry is an equivalent to bankruptcy in the corporate world. Term Financial Exigency first appeared in 1920s in the draft of the Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure of the Association of American Colleges (Berube, 2013, p.7) as a condition when it is possible to terminate tenured faculty. At that time, there was no clear definition or concise circumstances when universities can declare a state of financial exigency. Since then, this phenomenon has been covered in more details. In this paper, I will define financial exigency, its declaration process, causes, and possible short and long-term consequences and demonstrate it on the example of the University of Louisiana
The advertisements are everywhere -- on local television stations it is Everest Institute, or Brown Mackie College. On South Florida highway billboards, it is the University of Phoenix. All are selling a quick, convenient college education, and the dream of a better life. In this economy, people are buying, and in the process the schools -- built to make a profit -- are thriving. What is less clear, though, is how much students actually benefit. For-profit colleges, many with night classes and entire degree programs available online, are built to fit seamlessly into the busy life of a working adult.
In a letter to columnist Ann Landers, a college professor wrote about his views of the education system. He feels that universities have turned into businesses where teachers are just looking for money and students are just looking for a piece of paper with a title on it. He says that the students of today think they are automatically entitled to a degree because they pay tuition (Depressed Old Prof. 3-B). Adding to the profit motive for schools is the government which, for the p...
To begin with, there are valid points made. For starters universities need to stop considering themselves as businesses and stop putting business first, and
...sented themselves such as: lack of financial support, low graduation rates, and a non-existence of diversification. However, these issues can be changed by an increase in support from different places which would add to the existing importance of HBCU’S. People are inspired by the Institutions because they work hard to overcome obstacles placed in their way. Students, Alumni’s, and Parents see the motivation and determination of the schools to stay ongoing and I see it as well.
Journal of Labor Economics, 28(1), 113–166. Kaplin, W., & Lee, B. (2014). The law of higher education. 5th ed. San Francisco, CA.
While federal-aid helps people like Clifford in their desire to make a fortune, colleges and universities are prevented from receiving what could help achieve their desire to provide valuable education to their students. Although Carey proceeds to advocate his view that for-profits have their place in the market, the benefits—accessibility, speedy degrees, etc.—do not come close to
Brown II, M. C., & Ricard, R. B. (2007). The honorable past and uncertain future of the nation’s HBCUs. Thought & Action, 117.
The report, Higher Education for American Democracy, triggered changes in federal policies and subsequently the universities followed suit. Members of the commission arg...
My philosophy of higher education is that thus far we have realized that the gift of sharing knowledge is one of the keys to success in our society. We have learned from so many great philosophers, scientist, and researchers that have fueled our knowledge in a vast variety subjects. The importance of passing on this knowledge and improving our society has shown to be important in human survival and our growth in the years to come. As the years pass and technology is getting more advanced, the need for higher education is steadily rising. In the past years, a bachelor’s degree was viewed as one of the greatest accomplishments of that time. Now in today’s standards, only having a bachelors degree will not suffice. Thus proving that higher education is the pillars for growth in humanity. Similar to my philosophy, I believe my Christian experience relates to my views of higher education. For instance, as Christians, we have learned that the keys to success is reading and learning from the Bible. Just as we have learned from past philosophers, the Bible provides Christians with knowledge to continue to walk in the path that God has paved for us to go to heaven. In addition, talking and communicating with God helps us in times of need. He is our teacher and supervisor providing us useful knowledge to succeed. From that guidance, it is our job to pass that knowledge to other Christians to grow in our faith. In both higher education and Christianity, our job is to pass our knowledge and faith to others to maintain and improve human survival for years to come. Moreover, in today’s society, there is a growing need for Christ centered learning. I believe that CBU offers that and more. By combining my Christian experience and philosophy of ...
With the rapid growth of college tuition, it has become an important issue in higher education. College Tuition is simply defined as the charge or fee for instruction, at a private school or a college or a university. Most people agree today that college tuition is too high or that it needs to be completely dismissed. There are some however, that may disagree with the claim about college tuition and state that college tuition is necessary for college growth, and it’s primary purpose is to pay for college expenses to support the institution financially. Research shows that college tuition is too high and that debt has become a standard in America after attending post-secondary school.
As colleges’ funds dry up, colleges must turn to the public to further support higher education. By raising state taxes, colleges can collect funds to help improve the school’s budgets. The state provides funds from the taxes for colleges to receive a certain amount for each student currently enrolled. All community and traditional four year colleges collect these funds in order to maintain the school’s budget. As reporter, Eric Kelderman states, “less than a third of colleges’ budget is based from state taxes”. The school’s budget is how colleges are able to provide academic support programs, an affordable intuition, and hire more counselors. Colleges must now depend on state taxes more than ever for public colleges. Without collecting more funds from state taxes, as author, Scott Carlson explains how Mr. Poshard explains to senators “our public universities are moving quickly toward becoming private universities…affordable only to those who have the economic wherewithal to them” (qtd. in.) Public colleges must be affordable to anyone who wishes to attend. If colleges lack to provide this to students, it can affect dropouts, a student’s ability focus, and cause stress. The problem of lack of funding is that colleges have insufficient funds. Therefore, the best possible solution for the problem of lack of funding would be increasing and collecting more funds from state taxes.
Higher education debate is a controversial and hot topic for politicians in the United States due to the price associated with higher education in the country. State lawmakers regularly worry about the rising cost of attaining a college degree, and lowering the debt burden to the student. Consequently these issues have been turned into a talking point during the presidential campaign trail. The pressure on the amount of tuition paid has not only been seen from the government but also from the families, which have shown reluctance in paying the high tuition fees. Public universities 'which have attempted to increase the fee' have come under heavy scrutiny despite the reluctance of the state to invest in higher education (Holmwood, 2011).