Shikha Dalmia in the USA Today on Obama's Misguided University Ratings Plan

Training his eyes on rising college tuition fees, President Obama has announced a plan to tie federal aid to a new federal scorecard that rates universities based on "affordability and accessibility." But taxpayers should grab their wallets because the upshot of this plan, notes Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia in the USA Today this morning, would be that universities graduating more low-income Pell grant students would get a higher rating. "Existing federal aid will justify more future federal aid," she notes. "The ratings would promote political, not educational, goals."

The last thing that the world needs is yet another flawed ratings plan. There is a better way to prod universities to be more cost effective.

Go here to find out what it is.

Comments

[Alice Bowie]

Libertarians (Dem and Rep and Independents) that feel we should just say fuck environment, welfare of others, eliminate taxes (as this is theft) , and safety nets are the Star Trek Ferengi of America

[anon]

way to sf a link there.

[wareagle]

ah, it's the Obama school of debate - attack the point that no one is making.

[Jordan]

They also bake bread from the blood of children.

Man, you really showed those strawmen who's boss!

[Rhywun]

She's right; the first Rule of Acquisition is "Fuck the environment."

[Hillary's Clitdong]

the Star Trek Ferengi of America

I prefer to think of myself as Watto.

[Tommy_Grand]

"Few such ratings include measures of learning, the only thing that really matters."

The only thing? Really? That would be news to most college customers, i.e. HS seniors and enrolled undergrads, who want academic prestige, school name recognition, 'guaranteed' jobs on graduation, high salaries, good sports teams, nice facilities, access to [at least some] hot chicks/dudes, celeb ("rock star") professors, rich alums, good weather, fun towns/cities, and yes some education?but only if they've time to skype a lecture between tailgating, frat parties, video game marathons, beer pong, and other "networking opportunities."

[The Late P Brooks]

Training his eyes on rising college tuition fees, President Obama has announced a plan to tie federal aid to a new federal scorecard that rates universities based on "affordability and accessibility."

Wow. Talk about the answer to a question nobody asked.

[wareagle]

and as usual, Obama is (or pretends to be) oblivious to the tie between federal aid and affordability.

[Sevo]

Even the Chron figured this out:
"Student loan deal may have unintended consequences"
"A government program designed to help students deal with crushing debt loads could have the unintended consequence of encouraging some students to borrow more - and some schools to charge more - than they would have otherwise."
Obama hasn't.
http://www.sfgate.com/business.....815078.php

[The Late P Brooks]

Obama is (or pretends to be) oblivious to the tie between federal aid and affordability.

But this time, it will work. Those federal aid dollars won't get baked into the overhead pie, they'll go straight to the bottom line, and all God's chilluns gots degrees, halleluiah!

[PapayaSF]

"The ratings would promote political, not educational, goals."

This is a feature, not a bug.