University Business - April 2006 - (Page 13)

E D I T O R ' S NOTE Is Standardized Testing on the Horizon? R emember the old joke that one of the most frighten- ing things you can hear is the phrase, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help ? I mention that by way of reporting a federal push for greater accountabil- ity in higher education sort of a No College Left Behind effort. The Department of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education says it's time to consider a stan- dardized national exit exam to measure the effectiveness of higher education. As with the K-12 program, continued fed- there is no uniform approach, notes Joseph Aoun, dean of the eral funding would hinge on good results. Schools that fail University of Southern California College of Letters, Arts & to perform would be cut out of aid programs such as Pell Sciences. This remarkable freedom empowers schools to be unusually innovative and socially responsive, as well as allow Grants and Stafford loans. Not surprisingly, the plan has been met with a somewhat for greater competition between universities and public and private colleges. Would a music major then be expected to less than enthusiastic response from higher education. Sure, accountability is a good thing. With education perform at the same level as, say, an engineering major? How would a two-year college stack up costs rising, everyone is con- against a four-year college? cerned with ensuring a solid re- Colleges and universities Let's not overlook the fact that turn on their investment. Richard colleges and universities already Hersh, former president of Trin- already have multiple tools have multiple tools for assessment in i t y College Conn. , addressed place. They answer to regional and this subject in a talk I had with for assessment in place. national accrediting agencies that him last year for the release of his evaluate faculty scholarship and stu- book Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk. Just because the marketplace is prepared dent learning outcomes, as well as to agencies that evaluate to give the consumer what he or she wants doesn't neces- admissions data and the quality of teaching, learning, and sarily mean that we are doing a good job of what higher leadership. And, ultimately, they answer to the market: The education should be, Hersh said. I'm not sure we can't do quality of a school's graduates is certainly one of the deciding both. Why can't we require that a bachelor's degree have a factors for prospective students. Would an exit exam make liberal education as a necessary but sufficient condition for much difference? The Commission on the Future of Higher Education ex- it? Why can't we guarantee that, whenever and wherever a person goes to school, there are some criteria and standards pects to deliver its recommendations by August 1, but the by which we can judge whether what is being offered is of debate has begun. Where do you stand? Tell us by sending an high quality, so we can make some judgments as to what the e-mail to the address below, with the subject line Account- ability, and we'll publish your views. Let's encourage some value of a degree means? But is a standardized test the best way to achieve that? serious discussion on an issue that could have far-reaching Commission Chairman Charles Miller has said the test should consequences for all of higher education. measure college students' critical thinking, problem solving and written communication skills, but on what level? After satisfying their core curriculum requirements early on, college students begin exploring and learning in different ways. The beauty of the American system of higher education is that Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universitybusiness.com. universitybusiness.com April 2006 | 13 Edspage0406.indd 13 3/27/06 12:16:58 PM http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - April 2006

Table of Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Stats Watch
People Watch
Sense of Place
On the Hill
Viewpoint
Future Shock
Financial Aid
Admissions
COVER STORY: Averting Housing Havoc
The Art of Reputation Building
Web Conferencing: Rich Media on the Desktop
All Rights Preserved
Admissions Messages vs. Admissions Realities
Internet Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business - April 2006