On tonight’s show: Jason Williams is fresh from a Sundance trip, he gives his report. President Obama and Rush Limbaugh are feuding, we’ll let you hear what Rush said today and talk about the feud and Obama’s first week in office.
Are young people entitled to higher education, and are they entitled to get it at a cheap price? We’ll make an argument for raising tuition dramatically at USU.
And we’ll talk about Gov. Huntsman’s 90 percent approval rating and how it could be good for the Democrats, yes, the Utah Democrats.
All that, your phone calls and more tonight, listen or join the chat!
Regarding your last caller today–he suggested that USU simply hire ‘lecturers’ and drop tuition prices. Perhaps to the BATC level. His ideas are fairly easy to measure. UVU has a stated approach that they are not a research university but would simply hire lecturer. The difference between tuition at UVU and USU would identify the difference in cost (BATC is a poor comparison–it has a completely different mission and student population.) What you get at USU is a research university. That means professors that are required to advance the state of the art. This is particularly important for graduate programs. UVU offers minimal graduate studies (education is the only degree I am aware of). To me it is a reasonable tradeoff. But for those who disagree, the state offers UVU.
David, the caller didn’t seem to “get it” and I wish we’d have had more time to talk to him. This concept that everyone should be able to get the best possible education at the best possible price is just not realistic. The truth is, the quality of education at USU and Utah is being underpriced right now, and a reasonable increase in the cost of tuition could be made to bring it more in line with the market standard, and those who are not able to afford the cost of school out of pocket can either take out student loans or go to a school like Weber, SUU, SLCC or yes, even a BATC.
I really think the car comparison is accurate: I’d love to drive a Lexus, but I can’t afford one and it’s not worth it to me to take out loans to drive one and be saddled with that debt. I’d also love to get an education at the best public university out there, but I can’t afford that either, so I go to USU.
Not everyone can have a Lexus. Not everyone can be able to afford to go to any school they want.
UVU has a stated approach that they are not a research university but would simply hire lecturer.
UVSC is not a research University… for now.
Trust me. They will try.
Happy day, I get to agree with everyone! Tyler, you are right. And I would extend that USU is indeed underpricing it’s product. But that happens in the market. A high-end Toyota is a better car than a low end Lexus but costs less. USU is pricing like a high end Toyota.
Tom, I agree, UVU will try to grow its charter. As it does, it will have to raise tuition. But UVU is a phenomena of BYU and will always grow in BYU’s shadow. If USU wants to out maneuver UVU for state funds, it must position itself relative to BYU. (I know that is hard for Tom and Tyler to think about.) BYU continues to move toward a top tier private university (don’t argue with that–I have the data to prove it). It has it’s challenges internally and externally but is already probably the top university in the intermountain west. USU should look for drafting opportunities and loose the snotiness ASAP.
Regardless, USU is a great university and has some strong leadership. This retrenchment that is being forced on it will have some positive outcomes. USU will have the opportunity to position itself more strongly in the educational community and hopefully continue it’s strong fundraising efforts. Most importantly, through this whole problem, we need to re-commit as a state to the value of higher education.