Cornell’s new president: It’s time to look at higher education through a different lens

By Elizabeth Garrett. We in higher education have been on the defensive lately, amid persistent and legitimate concerns about the rising cost of college education, its purpose and its value. In response, we cite compelling data on the higher wages of college graduates compared to those without degrees, and we describe the intangible values of a liberal arts education that enhance an individual’s joy in life and ability to fulfill the demands of citizenship. More...