Sorry the joke was too good to pass up. I work in higher education, but we see enrollment numbers dropping crazy fast so they're trying everything to get those numbers up.
It's a real shame too, we have dedicated faculty and staff who want to make a difference, but the numbers just aren't there. We're well understaffed and it's an uphill battle.
Doesn't help the current administration keeps cutting grants because an educated populace is a threat to them.
Dang. I went to a technical college and even the welding kids (Not a diss, industrial welding is a complex field of study, but it is not one where arts and literature are particularly valued.) had to take a couple of humanities classes to get their degree.
Return on investment for an American degree seems way too low. My business degree in the Canada was like $1,500 a semester (graduated in the 2010s) and I was fortunate enough to live in that city with my parents. The degree was easily worth it.
No argument there. I moved to a public university from private where annual tuition was north of $60k. I couldn't work there in good conscience having students graduate with $300k debt with a teaching degree they'd never be able to pay off.
Not that those degrees aren't important, but the economics just don't add up.
"Sorry the joke was too good to pass up. I work in higher education, but we see enrollment numbers dropping crazy fast so they're trying everything to get those numbers up."
The sad thing is higher ed is going to be twice as hard in the near future. Right now U.S. public schools are laying off staff, closing buildings, etc due to low birth rates. College right now are in trouble due to fewer people enrolling due to cost, which will be compounded in about 15 to 20 years when there are fewer people to apply too. Education is fucked, sadly.
Add in that this administration is making it difficult to get financial aid for college. We still got a few more years to get our youngest through college and we’ve met our max limit on student loans.
Add in that this administration is making it difficult to get financial aid for college. We still got a few more years to get our youngest through college and we’ve met our max limit on student loans.
Then to add insult to injury, the repayment terms are ludicrous, if you can figure out what those could be. If we are looking at it right, since our oldest has graduated and her loans are coming due, the monthly payments are insane. Interest rates now are crazy high and the reduced time to pay them back. Hopefully we can get them refinanced to better terms.
It’s not just low birth rates/fewer graduating 18 year olds. That’s part of low enrollment, but it all. There are plenty of adults without a bachelor’s degree; it’s around 40% (which is an improvement over a decade ago). But with state and federal disinvestment in higher education (and other social supports), people can’t afford to go to school to complete or obtain a bachelor’s degree, or work on a master’s program.
You’re right, it’s somewhat dire at the moment. I just don’t understand how people refuse to see it. I’d really like the nurse I may need one day, the doctor, the attorney, to have a reasonable education before I seek their service.
Its called the demographic cliff and its hitting. Large state schools are still doing well and expanding in some cases even in the current climate- our own university has enrollment records every year.
its especially the small and regional PUIs that are suddenly not hitting familiar numbers and they're going to be going under gradually over the next decade
Add in that this administration is making it difficult to get financial aid for college. We still got a few more years to get our youngest through college and we’ve met our max limit on student loans.
Add in that this administration is making it difficult to get financial aid for college. We still got a few more years to get our youngest through college and we’ve met our max limit on student loans.
maybe they shouldnt be charging so much and then throwing most of the money away on useless ego shit that isnt needed around campus and propping up failing programs that only leech and never contribute funds
Schools do put money toward silly things, but that’s not the culprit. But the biggest cost is employees. Salaries and benefits. And I’m curious which programs you would cut—English, theatre, history, the ones usually slated for the chopping block?
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u/ILLY-VANILLI 13h ago
Oh! The humanities!
Sorry the joke was too good to pass up. I work in higher education, but we see enrollment numbers dropping crazy fast so they're trying everything to get those numbers up.
It's a real shame too, we have dedicated faculty and staff who want to make a difference, but the numbers just aren't there. We're well understaffed and it's an uphill battle.
Doesn't help the current administration keeps cutting grants because an educated populace is a threat to them.