Joey7F's Journal: Bright Futures

By now many of you have heard that the continuation of Bright Futures as we now know it is jeopardy. There are three causes of the deficit that can be addressed.

1. We can raise the standards (either retroactively or not)
2. We can raise money via taxes, tuition fees, etc.
3. We can lower the cost of attendance.

Of those three, the 2nd is least likely to receive a warm reception. With regards to the first, many would consider it to be unfair to change the standards after you get the scholarship. The third option has multiple solutions to affect the desired change.

1. We can lower instructor salaries
2. We can eliminate some or all of superflous gen. ed requirements
3. We can raise instructor - student ratios

The first would be unfair our professors many of whom are already underpaid. While number two would clearly be ideal, this would face much opposition from the academia elites that believe a "well-rounded education" is crucial before continuing with courses that actually matter. The next choice is also difficult to enact because there are only so many auditoriums and large classrooms. Moreover, many of our classes feel more like sardine cans than meeting places of higher education. However, we could institute a policy that requires a certain percentage of general education requirements to be taken in a "distance learning" environment. Telecourses, for example, can allow many students to finish these classes, which do not require a "standard" professor, at a low variable cost.

If you believe in this as a cause please contact,