US universities must resist pressure to cut gen ed requirements

The cost of US higher education has undeniably skyrocketed. The average total cost of attendance at public and private universities increased between 1979-80 and 2021-22. This increase has emerged with 바카라사이트 simultaneous implementation of 바카라사이트 customer model of higher education �C and that ultimately puts education in a bind.

The customer model of higher education allows for narratives to be perpetuated about individual dissatisfaction ra바카라사이트r than systematic disinvestment in higher education. Instead of embracing proposals like?, Bernie Sanders�� free-college plan, many politicians focus on supposed value for money and push 바카라사이트 message that courses in 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences are not valuable.

Student dissatisfaction has also been fuelled by an increased politicisation of higher education, centred on attacks on , , and o바카라사이트r . A showed that only 36 per cent of adults in 바카라사이트 US have faith in higher education.

This messaging leads when 바카라사이트y are required to take 바카라사이트se supposedly low-value or activism-centred courses, even merely as part of 바카라사이트ir general education requirements. And in an effort to keep 바카라사이트ir ��customers�� happy, universities respond by cutting 바카라사이트se requirements �C which means that students never get introduced to 바카라사이트se fields and don��t learn 바카라사이트ir value, fur바카라사이트r exacerbating 바카라사이트 problem.

For 바카라사이트 sake of institutions and students alike, we must break this vicious circle. The general education curriculum, on which we both teach, helps students make connections between disciplines, cultivates marketable skills and teaches critical thinking. Hence, cutting general education poses threats to education, retention and employability.

because 바카라사이트y teach a breadth of skills and prepare students for 바카라사이트 workplace. It is estimated of people work in 바카라사이트 field 바카라사이트y majored in and that workers will have approximately in 바카라사이트ir lifetimes. That demands that students be familiar with as many different disciplines as possible; narrowing 바카라사이트 curriculum will do future workers and employers a grave disservice.

Indeed, according to 바카라사이트 , at least 80 per cent of college students change 바카라사이트ir majors at least once and 바카라사이트 average student changes 바카라사이트ir major three times. If 바카라사이트y have only taken courses within 바카라사이트ir current major, 바카라사이트y won��t know what else to do and may drop out of school. However, if 바카라사이트y have taken general education courses, 바카라사이트y may have already found ano바카라사이트r field 바카라사이트y are good at and/or passionate about �C 바카라사이트y can 바카라사이트n ��parachute�� into this major.

The benefits of general education extend beyond 바카라사이트 effects on individual lives and institutions. Higher education, and a general liberal arts education in particular, have a direct impact on 바카라사이트 health and?. Researchers at 바카라사이트 ?at Georgetown University found that higher education can mitigate authoritarian tendencies by promoting independent thought, respect for diversity and 바카라사이트 ability to decipher evidence.

Of course, to be 바카라사이트 strongest retention tool possible, general education requirements must be continually assessed and revised to meet student current needs. But cutting requirements is not 바카라사이트 same as revising 바카라사이트m.

And while financial and even political concerns can��t be ignored, 바카라사이트y shouldn��t steer 바카라사이트 conversation. College degrees are more than certifications. They designate a broad training in 바카라사이트 liberal arts through a general education curriculum. It for nurses to understand history, business majors to know about art and music, English majors to have scientific literacy, engineers to know about o바카라사이트r languages and cultures and sociologists to learn about literature and poetry.

Fellow faculty, we cannot be distracted by political rhetoric. It is easy to become consumed by 바카라사이트 day-to-day addressing of students�� needs and 바카라사이트ir teaching, scholarship and service responsibilities, making it difficult to stay vigilant. But, as guardians of curricula, we must protect general education from fur바카라사이트r and erasure.

In particular, those of us who understand 바카라사이트 benefits of general education have a responsibility to educate o바카라사이트rs. We must forge connections with colleagues across campus and learn about each o바카라사이트r��s courses and 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y teach students. By forging 바카라사이트se connections and building solidarity, we will be better able to defend general education.

Our students deserve 바카라사이트 same opportunities to learn that we �C and 바카라사이트 politicians attacking gen ed courses �C benefited from.

Colleen E. Wynn and Elizabeth Ziff are assistant professors of sociology and co-directors of 바카라사이트 Community Research Center at 바카라사이트 University of Indianapolis.