WVU Eliminating Degree Programs-Future of Higher Ed

[nfrine]

What's changed over the last 30+ years is the amount of financial support states are providing to their public universities. A few decades ago, state appropriation covered 70% of Iowa State's operating budget. Today, it's less than 30%.

Iowa's Republican legislators and governors have viewed the Regent universities as havens for liberal think and they've decided to punish the universities the best way they know how - financially. Meanwhile, the Republican legislators and governor divert $50 million annually from the taxes we pay to prop up the 40+ PRIVATE colleges in Iowa in the form of the Iowa Tuition Grant which is only available to students who attend Iowa PRIVATE colleges. Think of it as their higher ed version of "school choice".

Anyway, as a result of all this, the Regent universities have now become tuition driven instead of state supported, just like the private universities, and they've been forced to dramatically increase their tuition to try to stay competitive. It's a big reason why Iowa State gave up its prestigious AAU status. In short, Republicans are driving the Regent universities into the ground (just as they're doing with K-12 schools) and they've shifted the vast majority of the burden for paying for a Regents college degree to Iowa families.

Think about this the next time you vote.

Please keep this out of the cave.

 

[CycloneErik]

View attachment 115571 View attachment 115569

But believe you me, those students at community college are getting the best effort a prof making around $3000 for the semester will bother to make, so it's a worthy value.

 

[CycloneErik]

Please keep this out of the cave.

On his behalf, sorry you can't be bothered with the plain facts.

 

[isufbcurt]

I tell my athletes what I was told by my industrial technology instructor: "The world needs ditch diggers too!" Those ditches are dug by large excavators and the dirt is loaded into large Cat side dumpers. Learn how to drive (or fix) heavy machinery and you can raise a very very nice family. 2 year community college program tops!

And have a horrible quality of life because your body is beat up when you are 50

 

[1UNI2ISU]

And have a horrible quality of life because your body is beat up when you are 50

That's exactly what people ignore. You ever see the hands on a 45 or 50 year old plumber or electrician?

 

[Cfinnerty16]

View attachment 115570

64%, yep looks like the data viz I found was accurate.

If anyone wants to see something maddening, since 2018-2023 State funding for higher ed across the US has actually gone up on average.

 

[cayin]

I'm guessing there will be more of this in the next couple of years. Higher education is pricing itself out of the market IMO. The only thing that has changed at most universities the last 20 year is the price.

are they pricing themselves out of the market or did the funding from the state fall off?

 

[cysmiley]

IMHO, state funding is a reflection of how American society views the value of higher education. UGH for the future as educated people become less of the population base of this country. Creativity, Research, Development, Innovation, Productivity, and Social Advancement are sure to suffer! Will probably lead to a decline in the standard of living, as well as our leading world economy.

 

[Antihawk240]

And have a horrible quality of life because your body is beat up when you are 50

Oh I understand. But don't we think that in todays world with technology they have greatly enhanced that. I'm thinking, my Dad baled every day with a JD 3020 cabless tractor. I'm doing it with a JD 8320 tractor in a climate controlled cab. I drive the unit over a washout and the suspension in my seat alone makes it seem like it isnt even there. If that is farming , I am confident the same technology goes for the plumbers and electricians hands.

 

[AllInForISU]

Honestly, what is the purpose of some of these? In my opinion, some of these “advanced degrees” replace on the job experience but not in a good way. Some of my best bosses never even had a degree but learned on the job.

 

[CycloneErik]

Oh I understand. But don't we think that in todays world with technology they have greatly enhanced that. I'm thinking, my Dad baled every day with a JD 3020 cabless tractor. I'm doing it with a JD 8320 tractor in a climate controlled cab. I drive the unit over a washout and the suspension in my seat alone makes it seem like it isnt even there. If that is farming , I am confident the same technology goes for the plumbers and electricians hands.

You're talking about power equipment/vehicles to compare to hand tools? That's weird.

 

[KnappShack]

IMHO, state funding is a reflection of how American society views the value of higher education. UGH for the future as educated people become less of the population base of this country. Creativity, Research, Development, Innovation, Productivity, and Social Advancement are sure to suffer! Will probably lead to a decline in the standard of living, as well as our leading world economy.

I smell what you're cooking but I think we have a ways to go. Eliminating Collaborative Piano, Composition, and Jazz Pedagogy is survivable

Plus the AI robot overlords will take care of all human needs. All. Needs.

 

[Nolaeer]

I think this is going to happen to a lot of schools like WVU, and other lower ranking programs. We’re already seeing it here with the directional schools in Michigan getting massive cuts and there is talks of them combining or being forced to close. I want higher education to be accessible to all but with the cost of college these days going to a school most people outside the state haven’t heard of or a school with a rep like WVU just doesn’t make sense unless you plan on staying home.

Students at WVU can get a quality education. WVU has more Rhodes scholars than Pitt, a much higher ranked school.

What kills WVU in the rankings is it is a state school, and it is mandated to take any and all state students who graduate high school. they get a promise scholarship and head off to WVU to party their asses off until Xmas, when a third of them flunk out.

With the mandate to take students who have no academic aspirations plus a free 1st semester on the taxpayers, it is an animal house situation for a ton of freshmen. They dont care if they flunk out after one semester, they view it as an extended high school graduation party before they roof houses or mine coal for the rest of their lives.

 

[cayin]

What's changed over the last 30+ years is the amount of financial support states are providing to their public universities. A few decades ago, state appropriation covered 70% of Iowa State's operating budget. Today, it's less than 30%.

Iowa's Republican legislators and governors have viewed the Regent universities as havens for liberal think and they've decided to punish the universities the best way they know how - financially. Meanwhile, the Republican legislators and governor divert $50 million annually from the taxes we pay to prop up the 40+ PRIVATE colleges in Iowa in the form of the Iowa Tuition Grant which is only available to students who attend Iowa PRIVATE colleges. Think of it as their higher ed version of "school choice".

Anyway, as a result of all this, the Regent universities have now become tuition driven instead of state supported, just like the private universities, and they've been forced to dramatically increase their tuition to try to stay competitive. It's a big reason why Iowa State gave up its prestigious AAU status. In short, Republicans are driving the Regent universities into the ground (just as they're doing with K-12 schools) and they've shifted the vast majority of the burden for paying for a Regents college degree to Iowa families.

Think about this the next time you vote.

so this would explain why an ISU grad like Jack Whitver would want to hurt ISU. Can't have liberal think dotted all over the landscape. Having a population armed with critical thinking skills is bad for business.

 

[CycloneErik]

I smell what you're cooking but I think we have a ways to go. Eliminating Collaborative Piano, Composition, and Jazz Pedagogy is survivable

Plus the AI robot overlords will take care of all human needs. All. Needs.

Yeah, that's not how this is done. For example, WVU is cutting half the faculty from their Public Health program while the pandemic rolls on.
These aren't academic choices or anything. There are people pulling the strings for this **** for reasons that won't benefit most of us.

 

[isufbcurt]

Students at WVU can get a quality education. WVU has more Rhodes scholars than Pitt, a much higher ranked school.

What kills WVU in the rankings is it is a state school, and it is mandated to take any and all state students who graduate high school. they get a promise scholarship and head off to WVU to party their asses off until Xmas, when a third of them flunk out.

With the mandate to take students who have no academic aspirations plus a free 1st semester on the taxpayers, it is an animal house situation for a ton of freshmen. They dont care if they flunk out after one semester, they view it as an extended high school graduation party before they roof houses or mine coal for the rest of their lives.

The inbreeding might be a set back too

 

[Antihawk240]

You're talking about power equipment/vehicles to compare to hand tools? That's weird.

No. I was comparing the upgrade in technology to large equipment in 1983 compared to 2023. I am therefore under the assumption that the tools of the trade for plumbers and electricians have also evolved and advanced the same over the last 40 years making it not so taxing on the human body. I am also under the assumption the same progress will continue to be made over the next 40 years as well.

That is my point in all this. These types of jobs are becoming more and more lucrative both physically and fiscally and kids don't need a 4 year degree to obtain it. If colleges and universities continue to jack tuition up more and more students will realize that Trades are a very beneficial and viable option.

 

[KnappShack]

No. I was comparing the upgrade in technology to large equipment in 1983 compared to 2023. I am therefore under the assumption that the tools of the trade for plumbers and electricians have also evolved and advanced the same over the last 40 years making it not so taxing on the human body. I am also under the assumption the same progress will continue to be made over the next 40 years as well.

That is my point in all this. These types of jobs are becoming more and more lucrative both physically and fiscally and kids don't need a 4 year degree to obtain it. If colleges and universities continue to jack tuition up more and more students will realize that Trades are a very beneficial and viable option.

The dudes working on my house still had to climb under the sink, pull up flooring, carry material, and swing a hammer.

Not sure much has really changed in that regard. I wish I had the skill, but I also like my joints

 

[cysmiley]

I smell what you're cooking but I think we have a ways to go. Eliminating Collaborative Piano, Composition, and Jazz Pedagogy is survivable

Plus the AI robot overlords will take care of all human needs. All. Needs.

Whose going to program those overlords.

Music has been part of the human experience since the stone age, both as entertainment and a message medium.

Not sure I want current tech leadership near the programming of the robots, it seems there is a lot of self interest as opposed to country/social interest in the industry. Think I would rather have them programmed by engineers, educated at our Universities. But then I am old fashioned.

 

[isufbcurt]

No. I was comparing the upgrade in technology to large equipment in 1983 compared to 2023. I am therefore under the assumption that the tools of the trade for plumbers and electricians have also evolved and advanced the same over the last 40 years making it not so taxing on the human body. I am also under the assumption the same progress will continue to be made over the next 40 years as well.

That is my point in all this. These types of jobs are becoming more and more lucrative both physically and fiscally and kids don't need a 4 year degree to obtain it. If colleges and universities continue to jack tuition up more and more students will realize that Trades are a very beneficial and viable option.

Until my Plumbing clients can hire a robot they are going to be stuck doing manual work that is hard on their hands, shoulders, back, hips and knees.