As a graduate from the UNC System (NC State) this leaves me very concerned for what will become of this great 17 school system.

it concerns me very much to see what is happening.

I am a UCLA grad--Ronnie Reagan's name as Governor was on my undergrad degree--and we had a
front row seat to see what Republicans did to the UC System in California. They have been going
after the public universities all over the country. It's sickening.

Just a matter of time. They view education and intellectuals as "liberal" and they'll take any chance to destroy both the university and public school systems.

given recently and what he had to say about the state of higher education.


America is losing her way with regard to higher education. We seem to have forgotten the real value of higher education – both to our economy and to our society. We have become too focused on metrics, return on investment and job preparation. I am not suggesting these are unimportant. Rather, I would remind us that higher education offers many other – and I contend greater – benefits to our nation and its citizens and communities.

Universities have long been known and respected as places of ideas and debate, of big discoveries and bigger dreams. It is within our universities that we have tackled some of our most perplexing problems and found solutions to them. It is on our campuses that generations of students have learned how to think for themselves and how to work collaboratively with others. Our universities have been places where ideas and dreams are converted to life-changing discoveries, and where our leaders of tomorrow are developed. Since the dawn of our nation, our universities have been at the center of our civil society and our search for excellence.

We increasingly view our colleges and universities as nothing more than factories that must demonstrate an immediate return on investment for consumers. Places that only train people for the workforce. We hear constant calls to drive out costs and produce more product at less cost. There is far less talk about academic quality and excellence and more about operational efficiency. We seem to measure the value of education to our students only in immediate post-graduation earnings. Again, I am all for accountability and efficiency, but if that is our sole focus, we may fail to provide the return on investment that is perhaps most valuable for our students – the ability to think, reason and communicate more effectively.

<snip>

Other nations are making sizable investments to build new academic facilities, hire new faculty and raise the educational attainment of their citizens. Meanwhile, the rankings of our own institutions are falling, and our premier status as the place to be educated is fading. Growing numbers of American students can’t afford to attend college at all, and too many of those who do are burdened by significant debt. This is a dangerous trend. And it is reflective of the serious challenges facing the higher education community today.



http://www.progressncaction.org/news/tom-ross-we-need-to-focus-on-the-real-value-of-higher-education#skip

Flagship to all the other many schools here that are a part of the university system.

Has always had a reputation for Liberal thought. Fairly high academic standards. (with the unfortunate exception of the recent scandals in the athletic department

Breeding ground for some of our finest liberal/moderate Democratic office holders.

This makes me want to cry. Or scream.

i feel fortunate that my son will graduate this year. i will advise him to look elsewhere for higher degrees.

Phew. Will this juggernaut ever slow down, let alone stop?