Starbucks to Subsidize Workers’ Online Degrees – WSJ

My gut feel is that this will be good.  The only problem I have is that I don’t know much about Arizona State University’s programs, and whether they offer a good education.

Starbucks to Subsidize Workers’ Online Degrees – WSJ.

I commented.

“I know little about ASU’s program, but, I do know that universities in this country have been treating young people as “consumers”. As the famous sociologist, David Riesman put it (in 1980), many schools cater to consumer “wants”, rather than student “needs”. Not everyone “wants” all the things that go along with getting a good education, and young people are easily misled by unscrupulous institutions and faculty, into believing they are getting a good education, when they aren’t.

I know this because I have seen it firsthand, even at “elite” schools. (I am a former professor.)

I hope Mr. Schulz will arm himself with the knowledge of what is going on in universities. He can do that by reading the studies reported in, “Academically Adrift”, and by reading the stories, observations and analyses on my blog, www.inside-higher-ed.com .

Given his position – and positions, which I admire – I believe he can make a difference. All of us can.”