Matters of Degree

AS SOMEONE WHO���S been employed in academia for more than two decades, I often wonder about the future of higher��education. One trend seems clear: At a time when more companies are doing away with degree��requirements��for new hires, more colleges are doing away with studying. The so-called college��experience appears to be more important than academics. Indeed, grade��inflation has been running rampant since the 1960s.

Meanwhile, student debt loads are the highest they���ve ever been. The pandemic has also created financial hardship for many colleges and universities, and it may take years for some to rebound.

Twenty-somethings have access to a variety of college alternatives these days. Coding��boot camps promise high-paying jobs after just six months of schooling. An infrastructure bill could create��hundreds of thousands of jobs for those interested in working in construction and building technology. Military enlistment, starting a business and paid apprenticeship��programs are all viable options for young adults looking to avoid accumulating large amounts of college debt.

From my own perspective, I don���t know whether to be worried or encouraged by the trends I see in higher education in my own state. Last year, Oregon���s largest private college announced it would be closing forever. But this year, several institutions in the state are also seeing record��enrollments.

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