Measuring quality of college education

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     This article focused on a few really interesting measures of quality in college education. Specifically on preparation for the workplace versus civic preparation and scientific inquiry and the leniency of grading of their college courses. I feel pretty partial to the argument of basically preparing students for specializing in a specific area as opposed to providing more a liberal, well rounded education.  College is expensive and for students who aren’t sure of direction need to know early exactly what they are paying for and what their college degrees will be preparing them for. The president of New Mexico State University put it best that schools need to really start paying attention to labor-market outcomes and stay up to date with employability directly out of college.  The civic preparation and scientific inquiry is also very important but something that I feel is really just a preparation for continuing education into the realm of graduate school. My hope is that these universities will start really educating their students about what their college paths will mean for them in the future so these students can get a jump on what they believe their paths will be.

     The second part of the article talks about leniency of college grading, which is something that has really interested me throughout my undergraduate and graduate education. It seems as though there is a real inconsistency when it comes to expectations among universities, departments and sometimes even specific professors. I am a believer in holding higher standards and honestly have more respect for the professors I have learned from who hold you to those higher standards, even if it means failing you in a course because the work you are doing is not up to par. One of the quotes in the article says ‘How could I possibly give a low grade and hurt this student’s future chances?’ This is a weak and immoral stance taken by an educator, you give a low grade to a student that earned it. Students need to learn that after school, the people surrounding them most likely will not accept meritocracy and just push them along in their careers because they are worried about their future.