Re-imagining Higher Ed

24:25

July 21, 2009

A student bikes between classes at San Diego City College in San Diego. California’s community college system is the largest in the United States, with 109 campuses, 4,600 buildings and 2.5 million students. (AP) — A student bikes between classes at San Diego City College in San Diego. (AP)

That’s a tall order. Depending how you count, the U.S. is now number two, or seven, or twelve.

It will take millions of new degrees to catch up. And radically new styles of higher education. “No-frills” universities. Online teaching. Out with some of the lush life, and in with “get it done.”

This hour, On Point: two leaders in rethinking American higher ed — the presidents of Northeastern University and Arizona State University — on what it will take to make the U.S. number one again.

You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.Guests:

Joseph Aoun, president of Northeastern University. His op-ed in The Boston Globe last week was "Millions more going to college?"
Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University. He's pushing for a new, no-frills campus for Arizona's state university system.

Read an explainer piece on how the US ranks internationally in "education attainment."

This program aired on July 21, 2009.