Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk

by Richard H. Hersh, John Merrow, Tom Wolfe (Foreword by)

Two decades ago A Nation at Risk sounded a national alarm on K-12 education. Now, an equally urgent alarm is being sounded for higher education in America. In Declining by Degrees, leading authors and educators such as Tom Wolfe, Jim Fallows, and Jay Mathews provide us with a valuable understanding of the serious issues facing colleges today, such as budget cuts, grade inflation, questionable recruitment strategies, and a major focus on Big Time Sports. Tied to the PBS documentary of the same name, Declining by Degrees creates a national discussion about the future of higher education and what we can do about it.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays about the state of higher education in America, it is simultaneously fascinating and depressing. The essays in the middle of the book were the strongest for me, and while a few of them came up short (in particular, one discussing diversity in higher education turned what I believe is a class issue into a racial one - while closely linked, I continue to dislike this tendency to confuse race and class issues as it hurts the very people these discussions and distinctions are intended to help), as a whole this book is an enlightening read. While not comprehensive, the differing opinions and backgrounds provided sufficient depth to give me food for thought. I wish I had read something like this before I applied to college, although I wonder how much of it would have sunk in and registered with me at that point in my life. Highly recommended.

[Joe Pickert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays on many of the problems currently facing higher education. I found a few to be quite interesting, especially the one focusing on the replacement of tenured faculty by adjunct professors and the general failure of universities to provide inclusive environments for marginalized people.

My main gripe with this collection is that many of the writers just seem to be nostalgia tripping for their own halycon days in college without considering the massive socioeconomic changes that have rendered the university of the past both obsolete and untenable. One author took issue with the prevailing attitude amongst modern students of seeing college primarily as a means to gain entrance to well-paying and fulfilling careers. To me, this criticism is ridiculous. While the intangible benefits of college such as maturation and intellectual development are important, they can be achieved much more effectively without needing to spend exorbitant amounts of money. If the private liberal arts schools that these authors so idolize feel the need to charge upwards of $40,000+ a year in tuition, they damn well better supply their students with the best tools available to succeed in their careers.

Another author seemed to be lamenting the loss of intimacy between faculty and students, even going so far as to tacitly blame our "culture of litigation" for the demonization of sexual relationships between professors and their younger mentees. And people wonder why women feel uncomfortable in academia? Gross.

If you can look past a few of these more problematic essays though, it's a decent enough read.

[Matthew William]

Great book about the American college experience. So true in so many ways!!!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well articulated articles on the challenges of higher education in the 21st century. Great article by Frank Deford on athletics and Murray Sperber on professorializing to a class of 600 students.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent (if depressing) account of higher education in the United States.

[Diane]

A provocative conversations starter
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