The Cost of College

[yellowwood]

We all know that many college students have or are incurring a large debt load.
Do colleges really have to cost so much?

My alumni magazine contains all sorts of information on new sports programs, alumni centers, conference buildings. Why?
I understand that some athletic programs pay for themselves, but why do students have to pay for so many athletic programs? Why?
As a commuting student, these never meant a thing to me.

In addition, why so many administrators?

And why do all college professors get such a light load?
Some of them are teaching remedial programs that amount to little more than high school classes; yet they only have to work a few hours a week.
I've had professors whose couses consisted largely of showing videos.
Others use the same curricula year after year and print their own (required) workbooks which cannot be used again.

And more...

Tuitions are expected to rise again this year. Isn't it time that tuition costs are questioned?

[Crazy Dave]

1. The 1% wants to make sure that very few of the 99%...

...kids can co-mingle with their silver spoon fed kids.

[demmiblue]

2. I would imagine that professors are expected to keep on top of their game.

This would include a lot of time-consuming research in their fields.

A good portion are also expected to publish original material.

Preparing, grading, counseling students, etc.; these things also take time.


It is silly to think that a professor's class hours are their work hours. And, yes, I am sure there are exceptions.


Edit: sp

[enlightenment]

3. Do you think professors' only work when they are in the classroom?

Some university (not college, usually) prof's teach 'lighter' loads - 3/2 or 4/3 (three classes one term/two the next) but they also have other responsibilities and - additionally - have to produce some sort of proof that they are researching/writing in their field each year. They have to serve on various committees; they counsel students, formally and informally; they may have one or more graduate students that they advice on their work. On top of that, they teach and grade - and if you think teaching remedial courses to students' who really shouldn't have even graduated high school is a cake walk - try it sometime.

Two and four-year college professors teach higher loads - perhaps four, but usually five or more classes per term. They do not have as many non-academic responsibilities (which is why they teach more classes), but they generally are expected to serve on committees, perform community service oriented work, and counsel students. Unlike universities, they do not have teaching assistants who can (and do) assist with some grading/teaching loads.

It is usually anticipated that a college/university instructor will spend - minimally - ten hours a week on each class they teach. Perhaps three to three and a half hours of that is in the classroom - the rest is associated work (grading/preparing lecture/dealing with student issues). Ten hours seems like a lot, but it's not - and many weeks a course may eat up more time. Sometimes, if things are running smoothly, they take less. Even so, multiply that ten hours by three or four or five (or more) and then add on non-academic job requirements.

A few hours a week is a ridiculous comment.

[Viking12]

4. What a load of ignorant crap.

Feel free to get a PhD and ride the gravy train if you think we have it so easy.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Indeed

:thumbsup:

[plcdude]

5. I suggest

you look at the big picture here about the cost of things. We who teach in universities pay the same prices as everyone else does. Check this table out. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/pricebasket.html


Tuition has gone up 8.3% since last year
A gallon of gas up 42.5%
A gallon of milk up 21.5%
Wrangler Jeans up 10.6%
Movie tickets up 9.3%

[JoePhilly]

6. So LEAVE college, and pick up a shovel!

Being the first in my family to get a college degree, and then a Master's ... and then a PhD ... I get a great kick out of posts that attack higher education, and those who engage or provide it.

I went from being a lower middle class kid, to being a highly paid professional in industry. I took big loans and paid them off.

If you don;t want to go that route ... DON'T.

Grab a shovel ... or pick something else.

Oh ... part of how I PAID for my undergraduate degree was with a shovel ... I worked in a Cemetery.

The professors are not the problem.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. tuition is out of control with large increases coming. Yeah, costs need to be questioned.

Cost of medical treatment also

[Dawson Leery]

9. On the first two, you are right.

Sports programs should NOT be subsidized by tuition (as Rutgers is doing), and the administrators are being paid too much.
This was a problem in our local school system during the 90's. The principals and bureaucrats at the Board of Education voted themselves generous perks, to say the least. These perks included government cars and 10% pay raised. This didn't go over to well, of course.