Redesign Academic Programs to Meet Student Demand

Criticism over the value of higher education has intensified in the wake of the recession, reflecting the increasingly common assumption that colleges and universities are not preparing students to succeed in today’s economy. While the intrinsic value of a four-year degree cannot be measured by short-term salary alone, this metric is important to prospective students and their parents who worry about job placement and financial stability after graduation. These concerns lead some students and their parents to choose majors based on job outcomes rather than on personal interest or “fit.”