CA. Governor Jerry Brown supports the idea, and President Barrack Obama has even proposed withholding funding to colleges/universities who raise their tuition’s too quickly, which he feels is locking out more and more middle class and working poor who want to attend four year institutions. Some schools around the country have implemented 3 year bachelor degree programs – but the vast majority of higher education institutions (including CA.) have yet to embrace the idea citing that moving to a 3 year system would give the perception that the school is less prestigious or wouldn’t offer as many electives. The UC System explored the idea in 2010 but to date has never implemented any actions to make it a reality.
This writer believes that not only is it time for CA. (and other states) public higher education institutions to implement such programs – but that in order to make bachelor degree (and maybe even advanced degree) attainment more affordable to many struggling families it is necessary.
Our current public higher education system is still working on decades old policies. But now with the ever present use of technology and other factors the system needs to make systemic changes to how degree programs are delivered and administered to meet a new world type of learning.
In addition another change I would recommend is to involve parents and other family members more in the support system(s) of students. I’ve learned as a college graduate and parent that students who have their family actively engaged in their education are more likely to succeed in college/university than those who do not have such added support.
Many teenagers entering higher education may legally be able to enter binding legal contracts and other adult like activities – but in reality they haven’t lived long enough to navigate through the maze of requirements to complete college successfully on their own, and there are not enough adequate opportunities for each student to be assisted by college counselors.