FABULOUS article in today's Inside Higher Education! The topic was 3 year degrees. But it was reading both the article and the comments that made it clear that there is an even more basic question to be answered before deciding on how many years college should take.That question is . . .
Comments show the opinion on what college is all about varies from getting a job, having fun, gaining wisdom, getting an education (as opposed to a degree), research, money, etc. It is very clear that without lack of clarity on WHY go to college, it is no wonder there is no agreement on how long that process -- whatever it is and it is for -- would take!!
My first reaction to the article was to talk about my experience that much of the problem today is students simply "choosing" or being "forced" to take 5 years to get a 4 year degree. Sometimes it is the student’s fault by taking light loads for various reasons. But more and more it is due to the student's inability to get their required courses! State colleges and universities are especially difficult right now because classes are not being offered during this semester/quarter or too few sections are offered to handle all the students who need it or the program is changed, etc.
I originally was thinking about credit "creep" where more and more units/classes have been added to majors in order to graduate. I was thinking about students who start college with no clear path or major which means they are taking classes that may or may not be appropriate to the final major.
But I think the dialogue first needs to be What is college for? I know this both an individual AND a national dialog that needs to be held! What do you think?
