Maybe
its time we started doing some serious 'out of the box' thinking
about our state funded higher education system?
Many
states and local communities are struggling with tightening budgets
and are looking closely at the public education system as an area
where cuts can be made. As we've seen in the news, some Governors
think they can save money by cutting teacher pay or taking away their
collective bargaining rights. Other states looking at increasing
class size, cutting school programs, consolidating schools, and other
ways to reduce costs. These approaches may help reduce the budget to
some degree, but at what cost to the students and our future.
Many
other industries are being dramatically overhauled as new 21st
century information technologies (IT) and business models are being
put in place. Witness what is happening to the newspaper industry,
the music industry, the growing online retail industry, finance,
healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors in this 21st
century global economy.
The
education sector is not immune to the massive changes that are
currently underway. Online universities are a reality and are
starting to challenge traditional 'brick and mortar' universities of
the past. In West Virginia, for example, the state funded West
Virginia University (WVU) system is no longer the largest university
system. The private, online American
Public University System (APUS) now has over 200,000
registered students, more than than the state supported WVU system.
Well
known, fully accredited online universities are taking hold all
across the country. Witness such well known examples as the
University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Capella University, Kaplan
University, Walden University, and many more. They offer Associate,
Bachelor, and Masters degree programs at prices comparable to state
run institutions. Students of all ages can attend classes online even
as they hold down jobs in the workforce or are stationed overseas in
the military.
There
are sound arguments 'pro and con' for maintaining the existing state
funded higher education system. Across the state, many of us would
take up arms to defend our beloved Clemson Tigers or Carolina
Gamecocks. BUT... Bottom line – we may need to have our state
government start scaling back its involvement in running state-owned
community colleges and universities that operate at a deficit and
constantly are asking for more funding from tax payers.
What
about taking the first steps to turn over the state-funded education
industry to the private sector? Is it past time to do some serious
'out of the box' thinking. The state could partner or contract out to
private, for-profit online university systems to offer courses to
students across the state, thereby lowering operating costs, reducing
state university employee payrolls and retirement programs, and
cutting back on expensive projects to build new facilities.
The
argument for use of modern information technology and solutions even
extends to K-12
state run public
schools. Online courses could be offered to students who want to
accelerate their education, finish school earlier, and maybe even
take online college courses in the junior or senior years to get a
jump on their education. Online courses would allow students over 16
years of age, who are hard pressed financially, to work part-time and
continue their education and graduate. Online education programs work
and are being successfully
tested
across the country – check
out some of these Online
Schools.
Aside
from privatizing
state-funded education systems and moving more towards
online education, what about using new information technology (IT)
and tool like iPads or Kindle systems to
lower the
cost of
purchasing 'paper' text
books. Why
not go digital? Even
providing these tools for
free to
students of families that can't afford them will save money. What
about having teachers and students using the growing number of free
and open source courseware, lesson plans, and many other types of
learning and classroom tools. To
learn more about them go to the non-profit COSI
Open Education
web site.
What
do you think? Do you have other innovative, 'out of the box' ideas to
save costs and improve our state education system? Share them with
us.
plenty of messenger boys." - Sir William Preece, Chief Engineer, British Post Office, 1878
