What would higher education look like if we scrapped the existing model and started over from scratch?  Here are some things I think may change….

• Employability of graduates would become the primary outcome.  A well-rounded education is great, but if it doesn’t help/prepare students for careers, we are missing the point.
• Tuition would be proportionate to the salaries in the field of study.
• Apprenticeships would be a requirement of graduation.  Internships have become more about exposure to a field while apprenticeships are hands-on experience in the field.
• General education requirements would be reduced.  I know some would say they could go away.  I am not one of those.  Too narrow a focus keeps thinking inside the box.  Not to mention that too many college students graduate without the ability to write well as it is.  Let’s not add to the problem.
• Everyone would learn to dance.  Just kidding.  Just checking if you are actually reading this.
• Developmental education would be accelerated and a shared responsibility with secondary education.  We need to better prepare students before they get to college.  Once they are there, if the need for developmental education still exists, we need to find ways to quickly prepare them for college level work.
• We would focus less on brick and mortar and spend more on technology infrastructure.  By leveraging technology and elearning, there is less need for additional classroom space.
• Learning skilled trades would be as highly valued as a college degree.  This is an under appreciated aspect of what community colleges deliver.
• Tenure would go away and faculty would be evaluated each year like other industry employees are.  Faculty should be afforded academic freedom, but academic freedom should not allow for poor performance in the classroom.
• Adjunct faculty would be held to the same academic excellence that is expected from full-time faculty.  No more warm bodies.

Even in a reboot of higher education, there is no “quick fix” or easy solution.  I do believe that change is needed to better address the future needs of the world.