College presidents alarmed over Obama's cost-control plan - Polidicks

I know this was already posted, but I found an article from the other point of view. [quote] Fuzzy math, Illinois State University's president called it. "Political theater of the worst sort," said the University of Washington's head. President Obama's new plan to force colleges and universities to contain tuition or face losing federal dollars is raising alarm among education leaders who worry about the threat of government overreach. Particularly sharp words came from the presidents of public universities; they're already frustrated by increasing state budget cuts. The reality, said Illinois State's Al Bowman, is that simple changes cannot easily overcome deficits at many public schools. He said he was happy to hear Obama, in a speech Friday at the University of Michigan, urge state-level support of public universities. But, Bowman said, given the decreases in state aid, tying federal support to tuition prices is a product of fuzzy math. Illinois has lowered public support for higher education by about one-third over the past decade when adjusted for inflation. Illinois State, with 21,000 students, has raised tuition almost 47 percent since 2007, from $6,150 a year for an in-state undergraduate student to $9,030. "Most people, including the president, assume if universities were simply more efficient they would be able to operate with much smaller state subsidies, and I believe there are certainly efficiency gains that can be realized," Bowman said. "But they pale in comparison to the loss in state support." Bowman said the undergraduate experience can be made cheaper, but there are trade-offs. "You could hire mostly part-time, adjunct faculty. You could teach in much larger lecture halls, but the things that would allow you achieve the greatest levels of efficiency would dilute the product and would make it something I wouldn't be willing to be part of," he said. At Washington, President Mike Young said Obama showed he did not understand how the budgets of public universities work. Young said the total cost to educate college students in his state, which is paid for by both tuition and state government dollars, has gone down because of efficiencies on campus. While universities are tightening costs, the state is cutting their subsidies and authorizing tuition increases to make up for the loss. "They really should know better," Young said. "This really is political theater of the worst sort." Obama's plan would need approval by Congress, a hard sell in an atmosphere of partisan gridlock. In his State of the Union address Tuesday, Obama described meeting with university presidents who explained how some schools curtailed costs through technology and redesigning courses to help students finish more quickly. He said more schools need to take such steps. Obama said at Michigan that higher education has become an imperative for success in America, but the cost has grown unrealistic for too many families and the debt burden unbearable. He said states should properly fund colleges and universities. "We are putting colleges on notice," Obama told an arena packed with cheering students. "You can't assume that you'll just jack up tuition every single year. If you can't stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers each year will go down." Obama is targeting only a small part of the financial aid picture: the $3 billion known as campus-based aid that flows through college administrators to students. He is proposing to increase that amount to $10 billion and change how it is distributed to reward schools that hold down costs and ensure that more poor students complete their education. The bulk of the more than $140 billion in federal grants and loans goes directly to students and would not be affected. The average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges this school year rose 8.3 percent and with room and board now exceed $17,000 a year, according to the College Board. Rising tuition costs have been attributed to a variety of factors, among them a decline in state dollars and competition for the best facilities and professors. Critics say some higher education institutions are attempting to wait out the economic downturn and have been too reluctant to make large-scale changes that would cut costs such as offering three-year degree programs. The federal government's leverage to take on the rising cost of college is limited because higher education is decentralized, with most student aid following the student. The response to Obama's plan wasn't all negative. Many university presidents said they welcome a conversation about making college more affordable and efficient. In Missouri, where Gov. Jay Nixon has proposed a 12.5 percent funding cut for higher education in the coming fiscal year, Obama's proposal could put even more pressure on public colleges and universities to limit tuition increases. By state law, schools must limit such increases to the annual inflation rate unless they receive permission for larger ones. Nixon has warned schools that he doesn't want to see a tuition increase of more than 3 percent, the latest Consumer Price Index increase. "The president's message isn't inconsistent with the agenda that we've been pursuing here in Missouri," said Paul Wagner, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Higher Education. "It's good to see him put the focus on the same things." Obama also wants to create a "Race to the Top" competition in higher education similar to the one his administration used on lower grades. He wants to encourage states to make better use of higher education dollars in exchange for $1 billion in prize money. Obama is also pushing for more tools to help students determine which colleges and universities have the best value. [/quote] [URL="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/28/college-presidents-alarmed-over-obamas-cost-control-plan/?test=latestnews"]Source[/URL]

lol

Well for poorer colleges this means more students but rich colleges,"OH NO, WE ARE LOOSING MONEY"

Colleges can suck a dick. Tuition has been skyrocketing since the 1980's. Remove all college sports teams at public institutions. They have no place in academics and they actually eat money. The coaches get paid salaries that often reach seven figures while the professors armed with PhD's struggle to reach six. (nothing to sniff at, buuuuut really?) Then fire everyone for making such a generally fucking awful education system. If a four year degree could waste any more of my time with useless classes, I don't see how. I wish we'd just switch over to trade schools.

I can understand in a sense. I'm sure that tuition costs aren't just rising because they can raise them, I could be wrong though.

[QUOTE=GunFox;34440044]Colleges can suck a dick. Tuition has been skyrocketing since the 1980's. Remove all college sports teams at public institutions. They have no place in academics and they actually eat money. The coaches get paid salaries that often reach seven figures while the professors armed with PhD's struggle to reach six. (nothing to sniff at, buuuuut really?) Then fire everyone for making such a generally fucking awful education system. If a four year degree could waste any more of my time with useless classes, I don't see how. I wish we'd just switch over to trade schools.[/QUOTE] I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440251]I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)[/QUOTE]That's your fault. Why are you blaming the school for the fact that you didn't study enough? Oh and science has a lot to do with history.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440251]I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)[/QUOTE] I think it's so everyone isn't totally ignorant about other subjects. It also helps suck up your money for the college, as well. :v:

[QUOTE=peterson;34440282]That's your fault. Why are you blaming the school for the fact that you didn't study enough? Oh and science has a lot to do with history.[/QUOTE] Great argument right there buddy

[QUOTE=GunFox;34440044]Colleges can suck a dick. Tuition has been skyrocketing since the 1980's. Remove all college sports teams at public institutions. They have no place in academics and they actually eat money. The coaches get paid salaries that often reach seven figures while the professors armed with PhD's struggle to reach six. (nothing to sniff at, buuuuut really?) Then fire everyone for making such a generally fucking awful education system. If a four year degree could waste any more of my time with useless classes, I don't see how. I wish we'd just switch over to trade schools.[/QUOTE] College sports teams bring in more money than they cost.

[QUOTE=peterson;34440282]That's your fault. Why are you blaming the school for the fact that you didn't study enough? Oh and science has a lot to do with history.[/QUOTE] Because you are intrinsically good at every subject providing you study, what a great argument. I don't really understand it either, I mean, High school sets you up with general knowledge where your degree is supposed to make you specialize in a career. Certain classes make sense, like math in a comp sci degree, but science and history don't make a whole lot of sense unless it's a social science.

[QUOTE=peterson;34440282]That's your fault. Why are you blaming the school for the fact that you didn't study enough? Oh and science has a lot to do with history.[/QUOTE] Not everyone is a math wiz or does well in chemistry. I myself always excelled in History and chemistry, but was awful in math and English because of my Dyslexia. cramming knowledge out of a textbook isn't learning.

[QUOTE=peterson;34440282]That's your fault. Why are you blaming the school for the fact that you didn't study enough? Oh and science has a lot to do with history.[/QUOTE] I suppose given a night's study, you're a genius at any subject. [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Noz;34440322]College sports teams bring in more money than they cost.[/QUOTE] Which tends to get recycled into the sports team :v:

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440414]I suppose given a night's study, you're a genius at any subject. [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] Which tends to get recycled into the sports team :v:[/QUOTE] So, did you ever get your degree? Or did you flunk out of college?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440251]I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)[/QUOTE] They say it's to make you more "rounded out", but it's probably just an excuse to make people buy more classes.

[QUOTE=peterson;34440437]So, did you ever get your degree? Or did you flunk out of college?[/QUOTE] stop posting

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440251]I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)[/QUOTE] Because you're more "intelligent and well rounded" and therefore a more valuble graduate (and more appealing school from employers which means more people going to your school) when your history majors ALSO have some reasonable (if modest) experience/intelligence with science too.

[QUOTE=KorJax;34440471]Because you're more "intelligent and well rounded" and therefore a more valuble graduate (and more appealing school from employers which means more people going to your school) when your history majors ALSO have some reasonable (if modest) experience/intelligence with science too.[/QUOTE] If it's to broaden my knowledge, why force two science classes upon me? Do I really need that much of a broadened knowledge of science in helping me understand history? [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=peterson;34440437]So, did you ever get your degree? Or did you flunk out of college?[/QUOTE] So, do you ever come up with intelligent replies? Or do you always just shitpost?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440484]If it's to broaden my knowledge, why force two science classes upon me? Do I really need that much of a broadened knowledge of science in helping me understand history? [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] So, do you ever come up with intelligent replies? Or do you always just shitpost?[/QUOTE] You might I'm studying Audio Engineering. It helps to know the Physics and the science behind how sound works. It also would help with History, say to understand how Gun Powder works, or why the Apple fell on Newton's head. [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Valdor;34440459]stop posting[/QUOTE] I will continue posting. Thank you for your concern though.

I'm working on criminal justice and they're making me do math courses i did in high school. Yeah I'm shit at math, but it does not change the fact I passed these classes before. So it just eats up money. God damn i need to enlist and just get my school paid for me, do my 4-8 years in the service get out with awesome training, college education for free and other goodies.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440251]I wish universities would explain as to why certain classes must be taken to get a degree. For example, I'm a history major and I'm required to take two science courses. Why? Science has nothing to do with history and I'm terrible at math (which a good portion of science involves). I ended up getting a D in chemistry and a C in biology which lowered my GPA. Thanks universities for requiring me to take courses that have nothing to do with my degree and ended up fucking me over! :)[/QUOTE] I wish you luck, finding a job with a major in history is going to be tough.

[QUOTE=SteelReal;34440805]I wish you luck, finding a job with a major in history is going to be tough.[/QUOTE] Thanks. It is indeed, but I feel it would be best to go with what I have the most passion for.

[QUOTE=peterson;34440437]So, did you ever get your degree? Or did you flunk out of college?[/QUOTE] Is there any reason why you're continually being a jerk or is that just normal [editline]28th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440847]Thanks. It is indeed, [b]but I feel it would be best to go with what I have the most passion for.[/b][/QUOTE] NO IT ISN'T A STEM COURSE YOU ARE STUPID FOR TAKING IT AND A FAILURE AND USELESS TO SOCIETY!!!!! I'm being sarcastic, good job going with what you actually wanted

[QUOTE=peterson;34440501]You might I'm studying Audio Engineering. It helps to know the Physics and the science behind how sound works. It also would help with History, say to understand how Gun Powder works, or why the Apple fell on Newton's head. [editline]29th January 2012[/editline] I will continue posting. Thank you for your concern though.[/QUOTE] If you think you need a tertiary course to understand that fast chemical reaction = boom or to understand that gravity exists, then you definitely need to stop posting.

Boo hoo colleges you can't raise your tuition drastically every year.

My school is one of the biggest SEC football schools in the country. The athletics department is financially a completely separate entity, and the revenue goes to the separate foundation. At least when I see that the football players putter around from their mutli-million dollar athletic facility to their gen-ed classes on their private, university-issued scooters, I can say that none of my tuition money was spent on it. I can also say that my university is one of the cheapest SEC schools to attend, for both in and out of state, and the education is solid. State cuts have hit us hard though, the slash in the budget has caused us to cut every foreign language except Spanish and French, and our top 40 computer science department is being merged into an engineering college. Tuition has risen substantially since I started going to school, and I'll be paying student loans for the majority of my adult life. That being said, more federal funding would be a benefit to us. Hopefully, it might eventually help future students, if it's more then just a bunch of political hype (which I doubt).

oh no colleges wont be able to extort huge amounts of money from students for mediocre educations put obama in the chair how dare he try and give americans better opportunities to get higher education!!

[h2]OBAMA IS LITERALLY THE DEVIL, GOD PROTECT US[/h2]

Oh no I cannot play jenga with stacks of money anymore.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34440414]Which tends to get recycled into the sports team :v:[/QUOTE] Even if that were true (which it isn't always true), what harm is there in having a self sufficient system that draws attention to the college?