Nivens, Summer. (2009). Restructuring, anyone?

Many are saying that the way universities are structured is outdated and unnecessary. There are too many majors coupled with too few jobs, too many general education courses, and, of course, the controversial issue of tenure. By restructuring these elements in the universities and colleges, students may be happier and more successful with the results of their schooling than previously.

In many academic fields, there are too many qualified individuals vying for the same small number of positions. Students pursuing degrees in these majors are left to cope, perhaps working at a job that has nothing to do with the major they earned. In addition, they may be left with a gargantuan amount of debt in the form of student loans. This level of debt is especially likely for students who possess extremely specific or not well-known degrees. So students who are seeking degrees in jobs that are not in great demand such as these should be given additional training that will qualify them for a job or given guidance on how to succeed in other areas of work.
Within general education courses, students of every major are grouped together, regardless of exactly how relevant these broad courses are to the students’ desired future careers. Most students would benefit greatly from separate courses more attuned to their majors from the start. Many students are spending large amounts of money to attend classes that may never be useful in their future career choices. While it is true that all students need a basic understanding of certain subjects, perhaps even these courses could be with classes composed according to which majors or areas. The classes should be taught. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, students take fewer general education studies and are therefore have more time available to delve deeper into their chosen area of study in the same amount of time. Furthermore, students with the same interests and similar goals are far more likely to work together and cooperate for the better education of the class.

Tenure is another controversial issue. Having tenure could potentially tempt professors, who are nice and cozy in their contracted spots, to stick to their old ways, and not update their materials or experiment with new methods. Tenure makes it difficult to fire bad instructors and replace them with better ones. Older professors may not be as inclined to use new technology because they are more comfortable in their tried-and-true routines or because they are intimidated by the ever changing pace of new technologies. New graduates in the teaching fields also have a harder time latching onto their dream jobs because they are competing with those who already have seniority and influence in the universities and colleges. It is a given that life just is not fair, but these new graduates should have at least a chance to shine rather than waste away in the shadow of the tenured. Better professors for whom next year’s employment status is based on this year’s success will lead to more involved students.

Today’s universities and colleges could benefit greatly from restructuring. Out of demand majors, general education courses, and tenure should be reviewed and reformed. Students all across the board would benefit and receive and even better education.