Fantastic

If only all colleges and universities did this. There is probably no single message that could and should be delivered to students, their families and politicians than this one.

DC Observer, at 7:51 am EST on February 20, 2007

Interesting idea. How much did it cost the university for signage and promotional materials? Where did that money come from?

Hopefully the Albright students will take notice of the high cost of education and ask their faculty and administration whether the (for example) $275 desk-and-chair was bought at the best price, or if the students are being gouged by a corrupt bidding process, backroom deals, or other mismanagement of their money.

And hopefully, more universities will enact similar days, and more students will raise similar questions.

A Graduate Student, at 10:36 am EST on February 20, 2007

Administrator salaries

I find this strategy to be extremely offensive. To counter this strategy, maybe students at Albright College should walk around the campus wearing signs that state what their average monthly student debt bill will be when they graduate. Or, students could walk around with signs that say “Why is our college president being paid $250K annually while the College encourages us to borrow more than we can afford?”

Mr. Common Sense, at 12:00 pm EST on February 20, 2007

Unmanageable debt

Liberal arts prof,

Maybe you haven’t heard, but the PIRG has shown that about half of college grads have “unmanageable” amounts of student loan debt. Ironically, too much debt can PREVENT students from achieving their dreams. And make no mistake, colleges encourage unmanageable amountsof debt because student loan money goes straight into colleges’ pocketbooks. That’s the problem here, that Albright (and all other colleges) is crying poverty while their administrators get rich and the students suffer.

Mr. Common Sense, at 3:05 pm EST on February 20, 2007

Oops, Sorry About That

I used the Berea comparison because I imagined any academic who “knew anything” knew about Berea.

Given his comments, it’s obvious that Liberal Arts Instructor knows little about either Albright or Berea.

RWH, at 5:50 pm EST on February 20, 2007

Oh, Come On Broken Note ...

For starters, this discussion is about the best and brightest at Albright College, not a bunch of intellectually challenged “students” at Bonehead U.

You ask, “Does anyone seriously imagine that tuition would fully cover costs if colleges would forgo a few banners, buy inferior-quality chairs at a rock-bottom price, and expect their executive leadership to work at or below median income?”

Of course not. And that’s why making a big deal out of conveying such a simple and obvious fact strikes some of us as being much ado about nothing. And by the way, I can assure you that at least half of the “executive leadership [of colleges in the U.S.] work at or below the median income.”

I can also promise you that you’re completely off the mark in suggesting that “dynamics are more complex than some of the commentators imply.” We all know the “dynamics” are exceedingly complex and no one suggested otherwise.

And in reading the comments above you may have seen “... broadsides against greedy administrators and colleges and vague suggestions of mismanagement” but I apparently missed those broadsides completely. Where are they?

Albright’s leaders admit the “Tuition Runs Out” day is a gimmick. And what’s the point? Answer: To spend waaaay more time and energy than is necessary to say, “okay boys and girls ... not that you and your family are footing your entire tuition bill to begin with, but if you were, well it’s still not enough to pay for what you’re getting here at dear old AC. If “someone else” were not willing to chip in — if there were not some wonderfully altruistic folks out there who apparently think it is worthwhile to invest in the education of young people – then we’d have to manage our finances some other way. And oh, by the way, we want you to be one of those altruistic individuals yourself ... and preferably before you make your last payment on the loans you assumed to pay for tuition, room, board, fees, and other expenses.

And by the way, Broken Note – and I’m extrapolating from what I know about colleges and universities other than Albright – if you look at that growth at Albright that has outpaced all other growth since, say, 1950 it is in personnel for “management” and logistics ... i.e., that which has the least impact on education.

RWH, at 3:55 am EST on February 21, 2007

Father, I’m sorry to say that the colleges have succeeded in brainwashing you. Shame on wealthy colleges for encouraging their students to donate money to them. Instead, colleges should encourage students to donate to real charities. Students and alumni give enough money to colleges: it’s called taxes and tax discounts. Colleges are the beneficiaries of many tax gifts, including the unbelieveable opportunity to not pay any taxes on their income — yes this is true for private colleges as well. It’s time to stop playing into colleges’ hands.

Mr. Common Sense, at 12:51 pm EST on February 22, 2007

Maineroad, your endorsement check is in the mail. Just kidding. But thanks for the support. My book will be out soon, and then the reckoning will begin...

Mr. Common Sense, at 8:25 pm EST on February 22, 2007

Yes, there really is a book about college costs/scams, and I will let you know when it’s ready. Hopefully Inside Higher Ed will have some coverage of it. Help is on the way!!

Mr. Un-Common Sense (New Name), at 4:55 pm EST on February 23, 2007

Negativity

I constantly reinforce that fact that it is more meaningful to receive $10 from each of our alumni, than $50,000 from one. Giving back to your Alma Mater illustrates to the world that you stand behind their mission, increases the value of your degree as perceived by the community, and gives Alumni the chance to fund initiatives they see as missing from the campus. Alumni can designate their gifts anywhere they would like. My alma mater runs 3 community centers-I designate my gift to further advance these programs because I believe they are, in fact, a “worthy charity". Those alumni that state “I paid enough for my eduication” are taking the cheap way out, and frankly, I’m sick of hearing it. There are hundreds of programs on campus. Get behind one of them with your time and OR money whether its the environment, education, animal rights, civil rights, funding a new building, or contributing to a scholarship. NO EXCUSES!

No Excuses, at 10:45 am EST on February 27, 2007