Kansas school stirs debate over outsourced classes (Fort Hays State University)

Associated Press ^ | May 26, 2009 | Justin Pope

[decimon]

Just how much can a college outsource and still be a college?

The question is no longer just academic at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Under a novel arrangement, the school will accept credits from a private company that runs introductory courses in subjects like economics and English composition — listing them on transcripts under the Fort Hays State name.

[decimon]

Charter Oak State College is an 'assessment college' like Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior College. Excelsior College is private. Assessment colleges accept any number of suitable external courses for credit towards their degrees. A BA or BS can be had for less than ten grand.

[pnh102]

Not a bad idea. Too many college students come in needing remedial classes anyway and this will be a good way for a college to focus more on advanced (actual college-level classes) as opposed to things which should have been learned in high school.

[bgill]

As long as it’s the lower level classes then it’s fine by me. High schools offer dual credit classes where juniors and seniors can obtain college credit in classes taught in their high schools by their high school teachers.

[Brookhaven]

The traditional college model (live on campus, attend classes on campus, immerse yourself in the college life) is falling apart (if for no other reason than the expense.)

A lot of colleges are fighting this because they are invested in brick and mortar, not educating students. With modern communications, there is no reason a student needs to be physically in the classroom with the teacher. Much less go through the traditional college experience.

What you learn is important. Not how you learn it.

As far as this private compnay, what do they think private colleges are? At the end of the day they are private companies.

[decimon]

What you learn is important. Not how you learn it.

No argument. And within ten years you forget most of what you supposedly learned in school.

Times change and learning/teaching methods should keep pace. With new methods you gain some and lose some and that's just how it is.

[Oatka]

I never went to a four-year college, so my take on the “college environment” may be flawed. In my working life, on more than one occasion, I’ve heard stuff like “I knew him in college and he was a [fill in the blanks].” and sometimes business decisions were based on that.

There’s an old joke about why women go to college - to get a MRS. degree. Maybe the male counterpart of living in a “college environment” is like going golfing with someone - you get to know/judge the character of people and/or make connections that may be useful in later life.