A Modest Proposal

Amid an economic downturn unparallel to any recent crash save the Great Depression, a continuing war, and record deficit can dishearten even the most generous of spenders. Optimisim and hope championed by our politicians has vanished to be replaced with a sober and sensible understanding of the horizion. The era of spending and debt is gone, in its place is frugality. Consequently parents having recently sent their children off to colleges or planning to in the near future are appreciating the more reasonable public schools rather than the private and far more costly alternatives. So how can private institutions such as University of Denver, (the university I am currently attending) stay competitive among an era of penny-pinching? How can the University of Denver compare the “bang for the buck” of education with public schools half the price? Likewise is it truly economically feasible to decrease the cost for students while maintaining both the class sizes and academic rigor inherent in private schools infrastructure?

The answer may appear daunting but perhaps mirroring other states solutions to this conundrum can provide a pragmatic solution to the growing trend towards saving. One viable solution lies in the innovative and progressive plan of California publics shools in its integration of local community colleges credit into their larger four year institutions. By creating a rigid schedule for students to complete for their given major, including the courses they must take and the G.P.A. that must be maintained, students can walk out of a two year community college and walk into USC or UCLA or other California schools with a junior level standing. This means that although the remaining two years may be costly, tuition roughly similar to that of the University of Denver, they only pay such a large price the final two years of schooling. Meaning that “bang for your buck” offered by public universities may be in fact feasible, and yet allow for the unique advantages a larger university has to offer.

I acknowledge that perhaps there are a handful of transfers from community colleges that do attend University of Denver. According to Virginia Egan, the advisor for transferring students, transfer students from community colleges seldom occurs. Moreover there are only two business classes that can be given credit from community colleges which means that the rest of your time spent in business courses will only be transferred only into “electives” rather than credits that work towards your major. In other words, although the student may have a concrete understanding of the business model, under such guidelines would force you back into freshman level business courses. A solution both redundant and pointless in both the economical and educational sense.

Moreover, a quick discussion with Professor Verl, a professor in the Science Department of the University of Denver, revealed that although the university is so highly priced it still is on the lower level on paying professors (at universities of equal price) while the salaries of administrators is on the upper strata. I understand the need for administration to hold the university together however if I am to get the best education possible under such prices surely I would like my professors to have a salary that attracts the most qualified. With a system that better integrates two year colleges into its colleges perhaps we can switch this trend. By eliminating some excess administration in the freshman and sohpmore levels be (since some students may choose community college instead) would allow this extra money to go towards professor’s salaries.

Unfortunatley such a solution would require a reevalutation of our common assumptions of the value of community college. The fundamental thought is that those that attend such colleges go for either lack of ambition and effort in school and thus are forced to attend a lower level college. They perceive an education from such a school as unsatisfactory compared to those at four year colleges. Prehaps we can reevalutate such preconceived notions by allowing these four year colleges to collaborate and create a system that developes students that both lack ambition, lack the funds, or simply are unsure of what field to pursue to attend community colleges as a way to hone their skills and prepare for the rigors of their final two years.

If we are to look at schools within our own state that have begun to make both the price of tuition more affordable and reasonable perhaps Metropolitan State University offers a more viable solution for our own state. According to Marilyn Parry, the Assistant Budget Director of Metro, they have begun to implement a “2+2 program” which allows students to pick from a list of “recommended community colleges” that fall within the guidelines and standards of Metropolitan state to walk out of a community college with an Associate’s Degree in into Metropolitan State at a junior level standing. This not only allows far more students access to a four year degree but as Marilyn noted, “This provides another base for students to pull from, and since enrollment drives tuition, means we can lower the price for all of our students.” This not only allows Metro to have one of the lowest tuitions in the state but allows for them to recruit higher salaried administrators and professors (due to the extra money). What does this all mean for Metro? A better education at a far more competitive price, with a more expansive network of students to pull from; something all universities should strive for.

If we are able to recreate the definition of a community college, we not only improve our education but the amount of children with access to a higher schooling. Our children are undoubtedly our future and by allowing more of our future into a higher education means that such an ominous horizon may perhaps have a glimmer of hope.