http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-959292.mp3
Albany, NY – OPENING BILLBOARD & EDUCATION HEADLINES - Glenn Busby (2:00)
COLLEGE CUTS PRICE BY 10%
Part Two: The Fiscal Realities of Higher Education Today -
The University of the South in Tennessee is getting out of what its president, Dr. John McCardell, calls the tuition "game."
Last week, we told you the university, which is also known as Sewanee, is cutting its 46-thousand dollar a year price tag by a full 10%.
With college tuition growing at a pace twice the rate of inflation, this news landed in higher education circles like well like a tsunami.
President McCardell says "high tuition, high discount has been the order of the day for the last generation and it's not working anymore." He says fewer and fewer families are willing to pay the sticker price.
McCardell describes higher education as something akin to a used car lot. At his university, only 30% of students pay that sticker price. By cutting tuition, the University of the South hopes to wean itself from using merit scholarships to attract students and ultimately get more of them paying their own way. But until that happens, the school will depend on donors and its endowment to make up for an expected 3-million dollar revenue loss next year.
This week, we wrap up our conversation with Dr. McCardell, covering a wide range of topics in higher education, including:
How lowering prices may impact access.
Will this make Sewanee more competitive in the marketplace?
Are they cutting expenses to help finance the reduced revenue?
What's the potential impact Washington may have in the areas of Pell Grants and for-profit colleges?
Plus, what is the future of higher education?
Glenn Busby reports. (9:00)
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH -
The Centers for Disease Control says one out of every 110 children born in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The National Education Association (NEA) says autism is the fastest growing disability among children. So they've launched a new resource for educators and parents to help them work with some of the challenges presented by autism.
TBOOK spoke with NEA President, Dennis Van Roekel.
Charlie Deitz reports. (7:08)
*(For more information on the NEA program mentioned above, here is their web
link: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/autismpuzzle.pdf.)*
THE ACADEMIC MINUTE
"DESIGNING IMAGINATIVE PLAYGROUNDS" -
This week's Academic Minute professor explains the importance of imagination in children and how playground designers can foster imaginative play.
Mikyoung Kim is a Professor of Architecture and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
The Academic Minute is hosted by Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, a celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, and President of Mount Holyoke College. (2:30)
SHOW CLOSE - Glenn Busby. (1:30)