EPE 678-401
Economics of Higher Education
TERM: Spring 2006
TIME: Monday, 7:00-9:30p.m.
LOCATION: DH 127
INSTRUCTOR: Virginia Davis Nordin
OFFICE: Taylor Education Building, Room 143
Office Phone 257-2330
e-mail:
OFFICE HOURS: 3:00-4:00pm Tuesday & by appointment
Course Description and Objectives:
This course provides students with a broad introduction to economic and financial perspectives on higher education; who pays and finances the cost of higher education; the budget process of colleges and universities with a practical look at the University of Kentucky; & the role of the faculty, administration, student, parents, staff, and international agencies in funding higher education. The course will serve as a good introduction to those interested in the further study of Higher Education Economics or Finance. It is a course reviewing current policy issues in higher education economics and finance such as the research entrepreneurial movement, the role of development, the importance of tuition, business impact, and others.
Assignments
Policy Paper & Presentation: Each student will be required to select a policy issue relevant to Higher Education Economics or Finance. These topics will be submitted for approval by the instructor by the third week of class. Each student will also present an outline of their project to the class. A written copy of the presentation outline will be given to the instructor. There will be time for questions/answers following each presentation. Class members will be assessed on the quality of their questions.
The written copy of the policy paper should show scholarly analysis and interpretation of the chosen topic. The papers should be a minimum of 20 pages with adequate documentation as to the sources.
Submission of Papers: All written works should be organized and well documented. Two copies of each assignment should be turned in. One will be graded and/or commented on and returned. The other copy will be retained for the instructor's records.
Readings & Discussions: Students are expected to keep pace with the assigned readings. Class discussion will center on your questions and observations found in the readings. Students should participate willingly and vigorously in class discussion. The possibility for outside speakers exists as well; your cooperation and participation is expected when they lead class. Students will be asked to submit written questions on readings.
Grading
1st Assigned Paper 15%
Policy Outline Presentation 10%
Policy Paper 35%
Journal & Class Participation 10%
Final Exam (in class) 30%
Required Texts:
Veblen, Thorsten. Higher Learning in America.
Kirp, Daivd L. Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line, Harvard University, 2004.
Clotfelter, Charles T. Buying the Best, Princeton University Press, 1996.
Slaughter, Sheila and Larry L. Leslie. Academic Capitalism, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
Ehrenburg, Ronald G. Tuition Rising: Why College Costs So Much. Harvard University Press, 2000.
Finkelstein, Martin, et al. Dollars, Distance and On-Line Education. Oryx Press, 2000.
Bok, Derek. Universities in the Marketplace, Princeton University Press.
Gould, Eric. The University in a Corporate Culture, Yale University Press.
Newfield, Christopher. Ivy and Industry: Business and the Making of the American University, 1880-1980, Duke University Press.
Recommended Texts:
Altback, Phillip G. and Johnstone, Bruce. The Funding of Higher Education: International Perspectives. New York: Garland Publishing, 1993.
American Association of State Colleges & Universities. Exploring Common Ground – A Report on Business/Academic Partnership. Lanham, American Association of Colleges & Universities, 1987.
Savage, J. The Funding of American Science. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Sims, Serbrenia J. and Sims, Ronald. Total Quality Management in Higher Education. Westport, CT.: Praeger Publishers, 1995.
Slaughter, Sheila. The Higher Learning & High Technology Dynamics of Higher Education Policy Formation. SUNY Press, Albany, NY, 1990.
Soley, Lawrence C. Leasing the Ivory Tower: The Corporate Takeover of Academia. Boston: MA: South End Press, 1995.
St. John, Edward P. Refinancing the College Dream. John Hopkins University Press, 2003.
SCHEDULE
Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Holiday
No Class
Jan. 23 Introduction
Review of Course Content and Requirements
Guest Speaker, Sean Bortz on “How to read Thorsten Veblen”
Jan. 30
Feb. 6 Kirp; Veblen Question
Feb. 13 Veblen reports and questions; what’s Wrong with This Picture?
Kirp continued
Feb. 20 Paper Topics Due (Oral Reports)
Feb. 27 Newfield
March 6 March 13 Spring Break
No Class
March 20 Paper Outlines Due (Oral Reports)
March 27 Gould
April 3 Bok
April 10
April 17 Final Reports
April 24 Last Class