Our Cherished Halls of Ivy

Higher education has both supporters and detractors, although not in equal numbers. Some would have us believe that our higher education enterprise is on the brink of disaster, that it's falling apart at the seams. Some go so far as to call the system broken beyond repair, suggesting that it be rebuilt from the ground up. Can it be this bad?

Drawing on his long experience in higher ed administration, the author examines the sea change that's affected nearly every corner of the higher learning landscape. These corners include the high-and-rising costs of tuition, the crushing levels of student debt, the shamefully low graduation rates in too many schools, the growing "million-dollar clubs" whose members include university presidents and football and basketball coaches, the inadequacies of accreditation, and the growing influence of partisan politics in the conduct of our public universities. That's for starters.

With an insider's perspective, the author paints a picture that is up-front and honest, laying bare the depth and extent of specific problems confronting that crucial engine of our economy - higher education. In each case, he spells out what needs a tune-up and what needs something closer to an overhaul. Of course, he offers specific proposals for 'fixing' those problems. They're likely to be controversial, but the author hopes they spark a debate that ultimately leads to productive solutions.