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Losing Sleep Over Student Success?
By France A. Córdova
As university presidents, least among our concerns are
the 500 students partying on the lawn of the rental house across the
street from the president's residence. A president might, instead, spend
Monday night wondering if tomorrow's announcement about the state budget
will bring tuition increases and further cuts in money for academic
preparation. Tuesday night, a president might lie awake fearing that the
neighborhood association will file suit against the university for its
expansion plans to accommodate an influx of new students. Wednesday
night, the president could wonder if Mrs. K will give her alma mater the
gift she has mentioned on several occasions, a gift that would provide
for a much-needed performance center on campus.
Thursday night, the president might toss and turn about
whether the basketball team will rank last, or next to last, in the
athletic conference. Friday night, the president will be anxious over
whether the regents will approve the university's business plan for a
new medical school. Saturday night, the president could ruminate about
the academic senate: Did the faculty understand the urgent need for
curriculum reform at its meeting last week? And Sunday night, the
president might read a fat book about China in the 21st century, its
proliferation of universities and accelerating numbers of science and
engineering baccalaureates, and its rising competitiveness in world
markets—and get really worried. . . .
Over the past year, a number of journals have reprised
many of the questions plaguing higher education—providing a full
year's worth of sleepless nights. While each of these issues justifies
considerable dialogue and attention, the one issue on which parents,
students, the public, and educators can agree is the
importance—and the challenge—of student success. Whether our
concerns are about the future of an individual student, our nation's
competitiveness, or the health and security of the world's people, the
underlying issue is the challenge of making our students' college
experience successful. . . .
Excerpted from the spring 2006 issue of The Presidency. To
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