They are also recognition of the fact that many young people are not willing to invest three years' worth of fees and delayed earnings to get a degree. Students can pursue these in either the fast-growing community college sector or at universities. It is quite common for people to get their associate degree, work for a few years, and then return to upgrade it to a full degree after a further two years study. Another American import is the growing use of the internet for educational and commercial purposes. At Michigan, the university already operates by using e-mail and the internet, even for students resident on campus.
Undergraduates are the cash-cows of American universities, herded through vast, impersonal courses.
Professors and students communicate almost entirely by e-mail. Like other universities, Michigan is now looking at delivering distance degrees via the internet. It is a potentially very lucrative market. David Blunkett made it clear in his recent Greenwich speech that he expects British universities to start to raise more of their own funds. But the Americans were there first and have more financial muscle.