Is Higher Education Worth the Price?

After a week full of reading, watching, and discussing the topic of higher education I almost still feel conflicted in my response to this question. I agree with the statements that were made in the article  Are Colleges Worth the Price that acknowledge the lack of quality in college institutions. Especially with the amount of debt students are willing to go through to receive an higher education the product they are paying for should have almost no flaws educationally. To ensure quality education I think it is important to do student surveys to gain feedback on classes and faculty, also surveys for faculty and administration to see if their needs are being met. I think surveys are a great way to understand what needs to change and what is working because it's information and data coming directly from the people who are participating in the programs. 

Are Colleges Worth the Price also brings up tenure and how that can lead to poor quality. Since the teacher feels comfortable and understands that their position is secured it enhances laziness. I do think professors deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication but how can we acknowledge their work and give them a sense of security without it leading to a lack of effort in the classroom. In Are Colleges Worth the Price a solution is offered by Hacker and Dreifus in regards to what should replace tenure and their suggestion is multiple year contracts. I think this is a wonderful solution because it doesn't guarantee a lifetime of security but still recognizes the professor and can be more encouraging to keep creating quality work. 

Besides these two concerns I've mentioned above there are more issues and areas in which higher education is lacking. These are some suggestions I have discussed and read this week that could be beneficial and lead to a better educational system. In order to solve other issues I think more time is needed for recognizing what the exact issues are and developing a plan of action from there. But I think starting with the students and faculty is a great way to gain knowledge now. 

The cost of higher education is a complete burden and emphasizes the idea that knowledge is a privilege. I don't think that it is fair for people to have to embark on a journey that will destroy them financially in order to have the opportunity to expand their knowledge. I think this is where the main problem lies in higher education and is comes from the major expenses. Scholarships are an option and can be extremely beneficial. Although most of the time it is only when you have extreme athletic ability that you are given a full ride. I think there should be scholarships that provide full tuition for those who exceed at school as well as continuing to support athletes in this way. 

Overall I do think that a higher education can lead to a deeper understanding and increases a human skills as a whole. It is also an introduction to adult life and can better prepare you for your future career. As someone who is apart of a program with access to a higher education I have been able to understand the benefit in college program. Although I can't lie that the debt is a common topic and concern among myself and classmates. In our conversations we have expressed that the experience we have had has been well worth it.