By Rebecca Rowland. Jeff Selingo, editor-at-large of The Chronicle for Higher Education, began his lecture on the future of higher education on Tuesday with a picture from the cartoon “The Jetsons,” highlighting the danger of making predictions about an unpredictable future. With that in mind, Selingo discussed current trends in higher education while paying attention to traditional values essential to a college education.
Currently, alternate forms of education, such as the recent introduction of massive open online courses and hybrid courses, and rising college tuition costs threaten traditional forms of higher education, Selingo said. College costs are increasing as family wealth decreases in light of the 2008 economic downturn. Meanwhile, states have contracted funding for day-to-day services, particularly higher education, and the federal government is considering cutting research grants and the Pell Grant program. Consequently, students must reevaluate the economic availability of a college education.
“Tuition is eating up a larger and larger share of family income,” Selingo said. “As a result, parents and students are asking more and more questions about what they’re buying for what they’re spending.” Read more...