The Five-Year Party: How Colleges Have Given Up on Educating Your Child and What You Can Do About It
Colleges look much the same as they did 5 or 10 years ago, but a lot has changed behind
the scenes. While some mixture of study and play has always been part of college life,
an increasing number of schools have completely abandoned the idea that students need
to learn or demonstrate that they've learned. Financial pressures have made college
administrations increasingly reluctant to flunk anyone out, regardless of performance,
although the average length of time to get a degree is now 5 years, and for many students
it's 6 or more. Student evaluations of professors.often linked to promotion and tenure
decisions.have made professors realize that applying tough standards, or any standards,
only hurts their own career progress. For many professors, it's become easier and more
rewarding to focus on giving entertaining lectures and to give everyone reasonably good
grades.
The worst of these schools are the "subprime" colleges, where performance standards and
accountability have been completely abandoned. Students enjoy a 5 year party with minimal
responsibilities while their parents pay the bills. These schools' investment decisions
(first-class gyms and dining centers) are all geared to attracting students that want to
have a good time, and their brochures all emphasize the fun aspects of the college
experience.there are very few pictures of students actually studying or in class. And
after graduation, former students are frequently unable to find work in their chosen
fields, thanks to their school.s reputation with employers, and unable to afford the
payments on sizable student loans.
The subprime colleges, which "teach" a significant percentage of college students,
are only the tip of the iceberg. All colleges, even the most elite, have moved in this
direction to some extent. If you are a parent sending your child to college, The Five-
Year Party will give you critical information you need about what is really happening
at your child's college, and what you can do to ensure help your child gets a real
education.
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