I think it vital that higher ed faculty and administrators address the question of rising costs. Let us find ways of controlling costs without devaluing our currency, that is, without reducing the quality of the education we provide to students. You do not demand of a customer what we demand of our students. You do not challenge a customer to stretch his or her mind like never before. You do not flunk a customer.
Student is a noble word, dating back to the Latin and meaning one who studies.
Let's use it, proudly. Now, back to controlling costs. I commend to you the report of the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education. It found that while faculty's salaries and workloads have not driven up costs, higher ed institutions have not managed their finances well. The commission warned that public concern about the cost of college was real.