Obama Seeks New System For Rating Colleges

PolygamousRanchKid writes "Targeting the soaring cost of higher education, President Barack Obama on Thursday unveiled a broad new government rating system for colleges that would judge schools on their affordability and perhaps be used to allocate federal financial aid. But the proposed overhaul faced immediate skepticism from college leaders who worry the rankings could cost their institutions millions of dollars, as well as from congressional Republicans wary of deepening the government's role in higher education. The new rating system does not require congressional approval, and the White House is aiming to have it set up before the 2015 school year. But Obama does need support from Congress in order to use the ratings as a basis for parceling out federal financial aid. In addition to tuition, schools will also be rated on average student loan debt, graduation rates and the average earnings of graduates. Under Obama's proposal, students attending highly rated schools could receive larger grants and more affordable loans."

Comments

Re:All he does is suggest "broad" change

[icebike]

Well, to date I haven't seen any actual work, either by him or congress.

While the population turns more resentful by the day from intrusive government meddling and spying, he fiddles with programs that really don't need more government intervention.

Re:Forget ratings, measure ROI.

[BitZtream]

As someone whose parents both retired recently from teaching at four-year universities, I don't buy that explanation. At all. It's pure and utter bulls**t. The fact is, most universities are barely holding on financially, having to cut entire programs to keep from going under. Professors' salaries barely keep up with inflation most of the time, if that, and staff salaries don't fare much better. They rely more and more on adjunct instructors to cover classes because they can't afford to hire additional professors to cover the classes.

I live in Raleigh NC. Between Duke, UNC and NCSU, and the local community college there isn't a professor within a 100 miles that doesn't make well over 60k a year. We fired a few Chancellors over the last few years with 1.5 million dollar a year salaries.

Go fuck yourself if you think they deserve that for the 2 fucking days a week of teaching classes the do.