Are universities providing essential information?

A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) indicates that the U.S. Education Department has created a commission to devise a "comprehensive national strategy" on higher education's future. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says that it is time to have a national conversation on our goals for higher education.

I'm not sure that we need more beuracracy in higher education, especially if it leads to the large amount of it that is seen in K-12 public schools. But Ms. Spellings said in her speech that the new commission would work to ensure that college is accessible to all Americans, and that students are prepared to compete in the global economy. Well.....we'll see what comes of it.

Here's what I found interesting:

Ms. Spellings, whose eldest daughter is a freshman in college, said the commission would also explore ways to ensure that parents and students get the information they need to compare colleges and universities. Speaking from personal experience, Ms. Spellings said she found "plenty" of information on dining-hall food, intramural sports, and campus architecture, but she had a harder time finding out "which courses to take, how long it takes the average student to graduate, and whether it's a better deal to graduate from a less-expensive state school in six years or a private school in four. I learned just how confusing the college process can be for parents," she said. "And I'm the secretary of education!"

Organizations that utilize servant-leadership principles make sure that their customers receive the information they need to make informed decisions. Clearly colleges and universities can do a much better job at helping parents and students in making what is a very tough choice.