Although many changes have shaped higher education through the years, Americans are not in agreement about whether they’ve had a positive effect.

A Feb. 5 Gallup poll found mixed opinions on the quality of higher education today compared to years past. Of the people surveyed, 38 percent said the quality improved, 27 percent said it worsened and 31 percent saw no change.

Though scholars and educators disagree on what a successful education means, higher education has seen a variety of trends throughout the years.

Last year, a new method called competency-based learning, in which students complete a course at their own pace, began attracting attention. The faster students master the material, the sooner they finish the course, according to a Sept 5. Huffington Post article.

The traditional lecture is no longer a must for college, said Dawn Johnson, assistant professor and coordinator of the master’s program in higher education at Syracuse University.

“Teaching has become responsive to the students in class,” Johnson said. “If you stand in front of a classroom and give a lecture, some students won’t learn that way, regardless of their background.”

More professors try to tailor their approaches, she said, in a movement toward creating a variety of teaching styles.

Abby Wile, a freshman fashion design major, said colleges now like to specialize, tailoring programs to a major’s specific skills.

“When I talk to my parents, they say I’m taking higher-level classes than they did,” Wile said. “And everything’s more geared towards my major.”

She said she writes one paper a week, at most. The rest of her time goes to hands-on learning.

“I feel like I’m learning my craft,” she said.

Wile said she feels she is gaining a skill, rather than strictly theoretical knowledge.

Omi Alam, a junior environmental engineering major, said he believes colleges now insist on more real-world experience.

“I think that’s why universities pressure students into getting internships, so they don’t just rely on college work, so you can implement your techniques,” Alam said.

Johnson, the professor, linked an uptick in student diversity to major changes in higher education. As the student makeup evolved, college curriculums shifted, she said, introducing a wave of new courses.

Curriculums expanded to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and African American studies, among others, she said. Multicultural content began showing up in English classes.

A major flaw with higher education, Johnson said, is the skyrocketing cost.

“It’s cost-prohibitive,” she said. “People don’t go back for other reasons, but money, in part, puts it out of reach. “

Even public universities or community colleges, considered an affordable alternative, can shut out applicants with their tuition alone, she said.

Financial aid offers partial relief, but some students still may not finish college, Johnson said.

“I suspect that this is a growing trend,” she said. “A lot of people have taken loans but don’t have a degree to show for it.”

Johnson defended the value of a college degree, but said she understands the pessimism of unemployed recent graduates. She said she would be interested to see where students who graduated five years ago are now.

She said she believes higher education has improved in quality, but the gap between students who can afford to pay for college and those who cannot compromises the quality.

Said Johnson: “If a college education is something people need, we need to figure out a way to make it accessible.”

Published on February 13, 2013 at 11:57 pm

Contact Natsumi: najisaka@syr.edu