Education Report Draws Fire From Own Committee
Controversial draft focuses little attention on diversity, but is critical
of university spending, tuition increases.
By Charles Dervarics
A major restructuring of financial aid and greater accountability for colleges are two major themes of a blue-ribbon panel’s draft report on higher education reform. But the controversial draft focuses relatively little attention on diversity issues and already faces criticism from some of its own members, who must reach a consensus on recommendations by early fall.
The report from the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education pulls no punches on many issues, calling colleges inefficiently run and poor at controlling costs and prices. “Colleges and universities have shown little inclination to cut costs and improve their productivity,” the study says. It also calls for a complete overhaul of the financial aid system, both to simplify the application process and to create more need-based assistance.
But the report’s strong rhetoric against many higher education practices is rankling members of the commission.
In a message to college presidents in late June, American Council on Education President David Ward called some of the recommendations “deeply troubling.” A member of the panel, Ward said the draft does not reflect many of the discussions that have taken place.
“I believe [the draft report] is seriously flawed and needs significant revision. I am particularly unhappy with the tone and the hostile, almost confrontational way it approaches higher education,” he wrote.
