Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education
Why and how American colleges and universities need to change in order to meet the nation's pressing needs

American higher education faces some serious problems—but they are not the ones most people think. In this brief and accessible book, two leading experts show that many so-called crises—from the idea that typical students are drowning in debt to the belief that tuition increases are being driven by administrative bloat—are exaggerated or simply false. At the same time, many real problems—from the high dropout rate to inefficient faculty staffing—have received far too little attention. In response, William G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson provide a frank assessment of the biggest challenges confronting higher education and propose a bold agenda for reengineering essential elements of the system to meet them. The result promises to help shape the debate about higher education for years to come.

Lesson Plan shows that, for all of its accomplishments, higher education today is falling short when it comes to vital national needs. Too many undergraduates are dropping out or taking too long to graduate; minorities and the poor fare worse than their peers, reinforcing inequality; and college is unaffordable for too many. But these problems could be greatly reduced by making significant changes, including targeting federal and state funding more efficiently; allocating less money for "merit aid" and more to match financial need; creating a respected “teaching corps” that would include nontenure faculty; improving basic courses in fields such as math by combining adaptive learning and face-to-face teaching; strengthening leadership; and encouraging more risk taking.

It won't be easy for faculty, administrators, trustees, and legislators to make such sweeping changes, but only by doing so will they make it possible for our colleges and universities to meet the nation’s demands tomorrow and into the future.

"1122959584"
Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education
Why and how American colleges and universities need to change in order to meet the nation's pressing needs

American higher education faces some serious problems—but they are not the ones most people think. In this brief and accessible book, two leading experts show that many so-called crises—from the idea that typical students are drowning in debt to the belief that tuition increases are being driven by administrative bloat—are exaggerated or simply false. At the same time, many real problems—from the high dropout rate to inefficient faculty staffing—have received far too little attention. In response, William G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson provide a frank assessment of the biggest challenges confronting higher education and propose a bold agenda for reengineering essential elements of the system to meet them. The result promises to help shape the debate about higher education for years to come.

Lesson Plan shows that, for all of its accomplishments, higher education today is falling short when it comes to vital national needs. Too many undergraduates are dropping out or taking too long to graduate; minorities and the poor fare worse than their peers, reinforcing inequality; and college is unaffordable for too many. But these problems could be greatly reduced by making significant changes, including targeting federal and state funding more efficiently; allocating less money for "merit aid" and more to match financial need; creating a respected “teaching corps” that would include nontenure faculty; improving basic courses in fields such as math by combining adaptive learning and face-to-face teaching; strengthening leadership; and encouraging more risk taking.

It won't be easy for faculty, administrators, trustees, and legislators to make such sweeping changes, but only by doing so will they make it possible for our colleges and universities to meet the nation’s demands tomorrow and into the future.

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Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education

Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education

Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education

Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education

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Overview

Why and how American colleges and universities need to change in order to meet the nation's pressing needs

American higher education faces some serious problems—but they are not the ones most people think. In this brief and accessible book, two leading experts show that many so-called crises—from the idea that typical students are drowning in debt to the belief that tuition increases are being driven by administrative bloat—are exaggerated or simply false. At the same time, many real problems—from the high dropout rate to inefficient faculty staffing—have received far too little attention. In response, William G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson provide a frank assessment of the biggest challenges confronting higher education and propose a bold agenda for reengineering essential elements of the system to meet them. The result promises to help shape the debate about higher education for years to come.

Lesson Plan shows that, for all of its accomplishments, higher education today is falling short when it comes to vital national needs. Too many undergraduates are dropping out or taking too long to graduate; minorities and the poor fare worse than their peers, reinforcing inequality; and college is unaffordable for too many. But these problems could be greatly reduced by making significant changes, including targeting federal and state funding more efficiently; allocating less money for "merit aid" and more to match financial need; creating a respected “teaching corps” that would include nontenure faculty; improving basic courses in fields such as math by combining adaptive learning and face-to-face teaching; strengthening leadership; and encouraging more risk taking.

It won't be easy for faculty, administrators, trustees, and legislators to make such sweeping changes, but only by doing so will they make it possible for our colleges and universities to meet the nation’s demands tomorrow and into the future.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691172101
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 03/29/2016
Series: The William G. Bowen Series , #90
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 184
Product dimensions: 5.70(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William G. Bowen (1933-2016) was president emeritus of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Princeton University and founding chairman of ITHAKA.. His many books included The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions (with Derek Bok) (Princeton). Michael S. McPherson is president of the Spencer Foundation, former president of Macalester College, and the author of many books. Bowen, McPherson, and Matthew M. Chingos are the authors of Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities (Princeton).

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments vii

PART I: Prelude 1

PART II: Pressing National Needs 11

Achieving Higher Levels of Educational Attainment 11

Raising College Completion Rate in the United States 21

Reducing Time-to-Degree 31

Reducing Disparities in Outcomes by Socioeconomic Status and Race or Ethnicity 34

Achieving Affordability 46

Strengthening Leadership Capacities 61

PART III: An Agenda for Change 73

Governmental Funding—Apart from Student Aid 73

Payments by Individuals—and Student Aid (Including Loans) 87

Increasing Efficiency 106

Putting High-Profile College Sports in Proper Perspective 118

Rationalizing Staffing: Supporting the Development of a “Teaching Corps” 121

Improving Teaching through Technology: Adaptive Learning 126

Enabling Stronger Leadership 134

References 141

Index 153

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"It has become fashionable to critique higher education. Politicians, journalists, and others are quick to proclaim all that is wrong, typically uninformed by either data or experience. Into this fray step two wise and experienced hands. Bowen and McPherson offer a thoughtful and informed insiders' critique of the academy. Drawing on both data and years of experience as successful college presidents, they shed light on access, costs, completion, time to degree, and the need for strong leadership. This little book should be required reading for all who care about the future of our nation's colleges and universities."—Lawrence S. Bacow, president emeritus of Tufts University

"This accessibly written book provides a concise discussion and analysis of many of the key topics in today's debates about higher education. I don't know of any other book that offers a comprehensive review of these issues in a condensed and readable format."—Rebecca M. Blank, chancellor of University of Wisconsin–Madison

"This short book is big in design, research, and smarts. After winnowing the key issues in American higher education from the noisy multitude, Bowen and McPherson apply the latest data to clarify each before offering a series of astute suggestions for solving them. Their lesson plan should be required reading for every academic administrator and trustee in the country."—James Axtell, College of William and Mary

"One of the central purposes of Lesson Plan is to undermine, through the careful use of data and other forms of evidence, much of the nonsense that passes for analyses of higher education in the popular press, the political sphere, and even the ostensibly scholarly world. The book provides a healthy, provocative, and much-needed dose of careful reasoning and sometimes daring advocacy for change. And its discussion of the financing of higher education is the best I have ever read."—Brian C. Rosenberg, president of Macalester College

"This small book punches way above its weight. The authors don't just identify major issues confronting American higher education. They use their considerable skill and wisdom to debunk common misperceptions and they chart a path guiding colleges and universities to safer harbors from the roiling waters they inhabit today. All who care about higher education and its indispensable role in advancing society should not just read this book; they should study it carefully."—William Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland

"Bowen and McPherson hit it just right with Lesson Plan. The messages on issues ranging from student debt to pointless PhD programs are perfectly clear and impeccably argued. The powers that be will find this book impossible to ignore."—Robert M. Solow, Nobel Laureate in Economics

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