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Setting goals: this or that?

• For each of the questions below, select which statement you most agree with.

• 1.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    It’s imperative to increase Minnesotans’ attainment of higher education degrees.
  •  
    All Minnesotans must have the skills and training they need for productive employment and citizenship, which may be acquired outside of a formal degree program.
• 2.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    We need to raise the education and skills of all Minnesotans.
  •  
    We should concentrate on developing the skills needed for a few key economic sectors, such as math and science.
• 3.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    We should rebalance resources and effort from formal higher education into informal and non-formal avenues of life-long learning.
  •  
    The importance of formal, institutional learning is greater than ever.
• 4.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    One of the problems today is that institutions of higher education are being asked to be too many things to too many people.
  •  
    Higher education needs to adjust to serve the needs of changing demographics and a changing economy.
• 5.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    Higher education degrees/certificates are the key to social and economic mobility in the United States.
  •  
    Given the changes in our economic structure, and the emerging capacity for “personal learning networks” we should stop telling our young people that they must have a college degree to get ahead and focus on less costly ways instead.
• 6.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    K-12 is not doing its job to prepare young people for college.
  •  
    K-12 is preparing students as it always has, we’re just sending too many students to college.
• 7.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    Given the social/public good created by higher education, we should be willing to spend more money to support higher education in Minnesota.
  •  
    There is already enough money in higher education, it is just not being used cost-effectively.
• 8.

  Choose one:

  

  •  
    What's all the reform fuss about?
  •  
    There is a desperate need for change.
• 9.

  The biggest problem facing higher education is: (pick up to two)

  

  •  
    Costs are out of control.
  •  
    Too many freshmen are unprepared.
  •  
    We’re funding the wrong things, activities or people
  •  
    We’re not producing what the job market needs
  •  
    Students graduate without enough improvement in their skill and knowledge bases
  •  
    Too few lower income people can’t access college
  •  
    Too few people complete their education

by Patrick Stadler on Mar 12, 2012 @ 2:30pm

If you look at the price of a college education adjusted for inflation over the last several decades, EVERYONE should be infuriated at the massive increase that higher education has inflicted upon the citizens of Minnesota and the country as a whole.