post in space: public colleges: mission lost

Farmer's High School, which is now the Old Main in Pennsylvania State University.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Executive Compensation at Public Colleges, FY 2012 - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education: Executive pay at so-called public colleges is peer-driven (itself a consequence of mass schooling) and unattached to real performance for the users of the system and the citizens helping fund these institutions. States have lost corporate taxation monies and have cut mercilessly despite warnings of long-term costs to simple cutting regimes. But somehow that hasn't stopped the top-heavy administration growth. Consider graduation rates at the top 10 universities on the executive compensation list above:

Penn State: 4-yr 63% / 6-yr 66%
Auburn: 4-yr 36% / 6-yr 66%
Ohio: 4-yr 51% / 6 yr 80%
G Mason: 4-yr 63% / 6-yr 66%
Ball: 4-yr 33% / 6-yr 55%
Michigan: 4-yr 73% / 6-yr 90%
Vir Tech: 4-yr 56% / 6-yr 82%
U of CA: 4-yr high 67%, low 39% / 6-yr high 90% / low 65%
U of FL: 4-yr 59% / 6-yr 84%
U of TX: 5 colleges out of 31 above 50% for 6-yr (more here)
U of WA, Seattle: 4-yr 59% / 6-yr 80%

Europe is moving to a three-year degree. Our public colleges now provide a six-year degree at ever-increasing cost. Rarely mentioned is how family and student debt limits other spending and weakens local economies: steep tuition and long years to completion with large failure rates costs the entire community.

Looking at these numbers and the poor quality of classes, counseling, support, food, and student life at most public colleges, we will see home college.

more
globalized ed
credential deflation
how is requiring a BA legal?
public and private