Turdacious wrote:You probably blame Madoff's victims instead of Madoff too. There is no legit reason for recent levels of college inflation.
If they knew going in that Madoff would fuck them over, then yes I would blame them. Apples to oranges.
Correct. There is no legit reason. Tuition costs are out of control. Yet despite this people still go in and major in degrees that just won't return it for them.
How many exercise physiology, art, psychology, etc. bachelor degrees does the market demand? Are they USELESS? No. Obviously SOMEONE is getting a use from it somewhere (hopefully). Many kids are going in these days and picking some of the majors that are less demanding on the hopes that their degree will help them get a job. Maybe it will but now they're gambling. With someone else's money that they have to pay back. Doesn't make it right that their loans are high, but they knew the terms going in.
Does that situation suck for mr. craigslist guy? Sure. But no one twisted his arm to get a fucking MASTER'S degree that is seemingly useless.
Turdacious wrote:You probably blame Madoff's victims instead of Madoff too. There is no legit reason for recent levels of college inflation.
Are you more upset about the cuts to middle-class subsidies known as public university tuition hikes, or to private colleges raising their maximum tuition?
"The biggest problems that we’re facing right now have to do with George Bush trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Congress at all."
Turdacious wrote:You probably blame Madoff's victims instead of Madoff too. There is no legit reason for recent levels of college inflation.
Are you more upset about the cuts to middle-class subsidies known as public university tuition hikes, or to private colleges raising their maximum tuition?
Are you suggesting that the rise in real tuition rates is in proportion to the cuts in subsidies?
In a sense there is no such thing as a private college (since tuition is largely paid for by subsidized student loans)-- but they're ripping students off too.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
The budgets of California’s universities are being cut, so recently Cal State Northridge students conducted an almost-hunger strike (sustained by a blend of kale, apple and celery juices) to protest, as usual, tuition increases and, unusually and properly, administrators’ salaries. For example, in 2009 the base salary of UC Berkeley’s vice chancellor for equity and inclusion was $194,000, almost four times that of starting assistant professors. And by 2006, academic administrators outnumbered faculty.
The Manhattan Institute’s Heather Mac Donald notes that sinecures in academia’s diversity industry are expanding as academic offerings contract. UC San Diego (UCSD), while eliminating master’s programs in electrical and computer engineering and comparative literature, and eliminating courses in French, German, Spanish and English literature, added a diversity requirement for graduation to cultivate “a student’s understanding of her or his identity.” So, rather than study computer science and Cervantes, students can study their identities — themselves. Says Mac Donald, “ ‘Diversity,’ it turns out, is simply a code word for narcissism.”
She reports that UCSD lost three cancer researchers to Rice University, which offered them 40 percent pay increases. But UCSD found money to create a vice chancellorship for equity, diversity and inclusion. UC Davis has a Diversity Trainers Institute under an administrator of diversity education, who presumably coordinates with the Cross-Cultural Center. It also has: a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center; a Sexual Harassment Education Program; a diversity program coordinator; an early resolution discrimination coordinator; a Diversity Education Series that awards Understanding Diversity Certificates in “Unpacking Oppression”; and Cross-Cultural Competency Certificates in “Understanding Diversity and Social Justice.” California’s budget crisis has not prevented UC San Francisco from creating a new vice chancellor for diversity and outreach to supplement its Office of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity, and the Diversity Learning Center (which teaches how to become “a Diversity Change Agent”), and the Center for LGBT Health and Equity, and the Office of Sexual Harassment Prevention & Resolution, and the Chancellor’s Advisory Committees on Diversity, and on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, and on the Status of Women.
Turdacious wrote:You probably blame Madoff's victims instead of Madoff too. There is no legit reason for recent levels of college inflation.
Are you more upset about the cuts to middle-class subsidies known as public university tuition hikes, or to private colleges raising their maximum tuition?
Are you suggesting that the rise in real tuition rates is in proportion to the cuts in subsidies?
State universities are cheaper than private universities of similar quality thanks to the generosity of the taxpayer. This subsidy is not targeted to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue an education. It's primarily a transfer to middle-class parents. Increases in tuition at state schools do not necessarily reflect increases in the cost of college education. They reflect changes in who pays for those costs.
That said, the diversity shit the UC and other systems are throwing money at is nonsense; and most schools have administrators that they don't need.
"The biggest problems that we’re facing right now have to do with George Bush trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Congress at all."
IMO the big lie is that you need an undergraduate degree obtained wholly at a four year university. A two year transfer degree (which is enough for emancipated students to obtain in state tuition) plus additional years is every bit as good as a degree obtained the traditional way. And I would argue that offering in-state tuition is a good way for universities to keep graduates in state (for critical degrees)-- assuming that the university is located in an economically vibrant urban area (ex. Cal, UNC, etc...).
States have the ability to strongly encourage this. Encouraging this-- especially with associated but separate junior feeder college-- would help universities reduce these costs. You don't need tenure track/ heavily research focused professors to teach 100 and 200 level courses-- it may be a good way to get good professors in the door, giving them a chance to prove they can teach without having to be adjuncts. Separating the colleges somewhat would allow separate administration as well-- lessening the need (and hopefully cost) at the higher level school; while allowing less expensive administration at the two year school. Students who decide that a four year degree is not the best path for them (and this can be for many reasons, not just inability to perform at a university level) will be saddled with far less student loan debt.
The federal government (via their monopoly of student loans) has this ability as well. By requiring a simple calculation and questionnaire as a part of the student loan application-- they can strongly encourage students to choose higher paying degrees, and encourage universities to offer more of them. Showing the average cost of the educational path chosen with the monthly payment that the student will be required to pay back; the average monthly income of graduates after one, five, and ten year periods along with the percentage of income eaten by student loan repayment; along with what percentage of graduates are actually working in their field of study would do a lot to encourage this. This might have little effect on impressionable 18 year olds, but would likely have a strong effect on universities.
Moreover, they can cap the amount that students at private universities can take out in student loans. Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, etc... (the elite universities) would of coarse be outliers-- the connections and prestige of universities like this would allow them to charge whatever the hell they want. Second, third, and fourth tier private schools would find this a significant constraint to their current practices.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
