Smart Talk: Millersville University President John Anderson

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, August 31, 2016:

The end of summer and the beginning of fall is a time for optimism for many college students.  The new school year is starting.  Students will be one-step closer to graduation and hopefully their careers.  Of course, most are also looking forward to seeing and meeting new friends and social activities as well.

However, as some 120,000 students return to Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities this year, there’s a cloud hanging over their heads.  Faculty members represented by the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, who have been working without a new contract for 14 months, will vote next week on whether to authorize a strike.

It’s just one of the issues we’ll discuss on Wednesday’s Smart Talk with Millersville University president John Anderson.

Another one includes a recent article by the investigative news organization ProPublica that found tuition and fees increased by 56% between 2000-2001 and 2014-2015 at Millersville — the largest percentage of any of the state-owned universities.  Millersville has attributed the increase, at least in the last year, to a per-credit tuition model that had an impact on students taking more than 13 credits.

The new credit model is considered an innovation.  There are others at Millersville as well.

We’ll discuss the changing face of higher education.