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PBS did a good Frontline episode on for profit colleges and the federal student loan situation for their students. Available online here: http://www.pbs.org/wgb

PBS did a good Frontline episode on for profit colleges and the federal student loan situation for their students. Available online here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/view/?utm_campaign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/view/?utm...

stretchwithme 16y ago
yeah, the government is after for-profit schools with shoddy predictions about what a good investment those student loans are. But the recent legal efforts give a pass to not-for-profit schools, as usual. Seems its evil for the non-unionized to make money in education. The unions and the overpaid civil servants that manage them can rake in as much as possible without federal resistance, even if the product is marginal. I wonder if that came up when the unionized PBS did their expose. Money that flows from DC has a way of wrecking things.
- redrobot5050 16y ago
  >Seems its evil for the non-unionized to make money in education College professors are tenured, not unionized. And considering that most schools hire adjunct professors and slash benefits to the bone, it's hard to argue that teachers are bleeding the system dry. On the other hand, the school where I just got my Master's from just built a brand new 177,000 square foot rec center, complete with 3 story climbing wall. And we've proudly paid good money to bring the guy/girl who invented Zumba to teach a few Zumba sessions. On top of this, programs that bring recognition to "joe consumer" (college football, basketball, etc) want for not. Also, much of PBS is not unionized. It's kind of hard to unionize organizations that rely on member donations to keep afloat.
  - yummyfajitas 16y ago
    College professors are tenured, not unionized. Many are both. At Rutgers, everyone is represented by the AAUP. At NYU, the TAs are represented by the UAW. (I'm not cherrypicking Rutgers/NYU, I just worked at both.)
    - desigooner 16y ago
      Sort of OT but I remember getting letters from AAUP when they were involved in negotiations for certain benefits for Lecturers, Part time Lecturers (TAs were considered to be part time lecturers because of some statute IIRC) when I TAed at Rutgers..
  - gyardley 16y ago
    Many college professors are unionized - see the California Faculty Association for an example. The parent probably went to a school where they were. At least in America they rarely go on strike. My undergrad institution in suburban Toronto was infamous for strike-related class cancellations. I'm in complete agreement with your point about non-academic expenditures, though. There's a large 'four-year party' market out there, and the fight for those students' tuition dollars has led to an arms race in campus luxury spending.

stretchwithme 16y ago

yeah, the government is after for-profit schools with shoddy predictions about what a good investment those student loans are. But the recent legal efforts give a pass to not-for-profit schools, as usual. Seems its evil for the non-unionized to make money in education. The unions and the overpaid civil servants that manage them can rake in as much as possible without federal resistance, even if the product is marginal. I wonder if that came up when the unionized PBS did their expose. Money that flows from DC has a way of wrecking things.

redrobot5050 16y ago
>Seems its evil for the non-unionized to make money in education College professors are tenured, not unionized. And considering that most schools hire adjunct professors and slash benefits to the bone, it's hard to argue that teachers are bleeding the system dry. On the other hand, the school where I just got my Master's from just built a brand new 177,000 square foot rec center, complete with 3 story climbing wall. And we've proudly paid good money to bring the guy/girl who invented Zumba to teach a few Zumba sessions. On top of this, programs that bring recognition to "joe consumer" (college football, basketball, etc) want for not. Also, much of PBS is not unionized. It's kind of hard to unionize organizations that rely on member donations to keep afloat.
- yummyfajitas 16y ago
  College professors are tenured, not unionized. Many are both. At Rutgers, everyone is represented by the AAUP. At NYU, the TAs are represented by the UAW. (I'm not cherrypicking Rutgers/NYU, I just worked at both.)
  - desigooner 16y ago
    Sort of OT but I remember getting letters from AAUP when they were involved in negotiations for certain benefits for Lecturers, Part time Lecturers (TAs were considered to be part time lecturers because of some statute IIRC) when I TAed at Rutgers..
- gyardley 16y ago
  Many college professors are unionized - see the California Faculty Association for an example. The parent probably went to a school where they were. At least in America they rarely go on strike. My undergrad institution in suburban Toronto was infamous for strike-related class cancellations. I'm in complete agreement with your point about non-academic expenditures, though. There's a large 'four-year party' market out there, and the fight for those students' tuition dollars has led to an arms race in campus luxury spending.