When a School Tries to act like a school
When I submitted my last blog When a School acts like a School to my
fellow bloggers for review one person commented, “I wonder how long they’ll be
able to do that.”
This month’s Carolina Alumni Review
shows how prophetic the comment was.
Following elections that resulted in a Republican majority in both
houses of the North Carolina General Assembly, the membership of the Board of
Governors for state universities changed from 19 Republicans, 12 Democrats and
2 unaffiliated members to 29 Republicans, 2 Democrats, 2 unaffiliated members
and 2 members whose political affiliation could not be determined.
One issue important to the new
board was concern that full-paying families are helping to carry the load for
those who qualify for financial aid.
Constituents apparently thought that was a bad idea. I am reminded of a family member and
devout Christian who commented on extending health care to those who could not
afford it, “I’ve got mine. Why
should I care about them?”
Although I am not a biblical scholar, I am unable to come up with a
quote from Jesus about getting your needs met and not bothering with the needs
of others.
The board set a limit of 15% on how
much tuition revenue could be spent on need-based student financial aid.
The University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill and four other campuses are already above the limit so the revenue
they spend on aid is frozen until tuition hikes rise high enough that the funds
allocated fall within 15% of tuition.
For every student who qualifies for the Carolina Covenant (family of
origin income at of less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines) and who could
expect to graduate debt-free, there are currently almost three students who
receive some financial assistance.
All students receiving aid will be affected.
43% of students qualify for and
receive financial aid. The average
debt accrued to graduating seniors is $17,000, well below the national
average. However, with aid capped,
students will have to borrow money so their indebtedness will increase.
Academic quality of students could
change. Acceptance to UNC is made
without reference to family income, if students qualifying for need-based aid
were excluded from school average SAT scores would drop from 1308 to 1278,
percentage of students who were in the top 10% of their class would drop from
77% to 62%, percentage of students who were valedictorians or salutatorians
would drop from 14% to 9%, and percentage of students who were the first in
their families to go to college would drop from 19% to 9%.
Also,
underrepresented minority students would drop from 18% to 9%. Of course it is too early to know what
exactly will happen but according to Shirley Ort, director of scholarships and
student aid, it is likely the university will be less available for students
for families with limited financial resources. Officials hope fund-raising
campaigns seeking private donations for student aid are planned.
Chancellor Carol L
Folt said, “…affordability and accessibility are central to our mission.”
I hope that mission will continue.
This is the same North Carolina whose University has recently been accused of putting many of its football and basketball players in "independent" study programs requiring no class time an essay to demonstrate some work was done and pretty much guaranteed a high grade to help the "student athlete's" GPA remain high enough so the student stayed eligible for the sports.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall any suggestions by the legislature to curtail the cost of sports scholarships so those there for the education could use the scarce dollars.
~ Jim (or you can call me jaded)
I think it's well past the appropriate time for us to reconsider how we structure our higher education, including the rather idiotic concept, fully embraced by most educational systems and many employers, that "everyone should go to college."
ReplyDeleteThe real beneficiary of this system seems to be the banks who make the loans.
And the victims are the hopeful, hardworking young people who start their adult lives saddled with overwhelming debt. Sometimes without even finishing their degree.
Thoughtful post, Warren. Recently, our son's au pair returned to Germany to resume her education where she has free college unlike the U.S.
ReplyDeleteJim, You are correct. It isn't clear to me how much the policies were engendered by the academic scandals.
ReplyDeleteKM, For those students who continue on to graduate school, the amount of debt incurred is gigantic.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Germany. Good for her.
ReplyDeleteWarren, you've pointed out several things that have bothered me. First the so called Christians, and it could be someone in any religion, who consider themselves pious without living up to the basic teaching of their religion. And then the whole business of overpaying the heads of colleges, in my opinion, as well as letting any good athlete pretty much get a free load while deserving students of low income, either can't go to college or end up with astronomical debt if they do. Also, making students think to get a decent job, they must go to college and then often end up with a degree and not able to find a job, or only a low paying job like as a manager of McDonald's. Why would anyone need a college diploma to manage a McDonald's?
ReplyDeleteWe're all poorer when talented young people can't get the education they need.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the football team will not be affected by the purse-tightening.
Sad days. I just wonder where all the money goes.