Monday, August 10, 2009

Texas grad suing college because she can't find employment

"I don't really buy into this idea of entitlement," says Aaron Wingad, a senior at UW-Eau Claire majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, who is one of two student regents on the UW System's Board of Regents. "I see college as a means to prepare myself for the real world and to expand my skill set and to give me the skills to succeed. College is a tremendous opportunity -- but I don't believe there are any guarantees."

While that might seem obvious to many, some who work in higher education are noting a shift in how students -- and parents -- view secondary education. In an ideal world, educators say, college is the time for students to grow as individuals, develop critical thinking skills and become more aware of the world they live in. Instead, a growing number of students appear to be viewing higher education as a consumer good, a product one purchases that ensures future earning power.

"I think there's this perspective that students and families increasingly have about education -- that it's a contractual relationship," says Scott Flanagan, vice president for planning and enrollment at Edgewood College. "In (Trina Thompson's) mind, she enrolled in college with the expectation that when she completed, she would get a job. I think that's an extreme example of what's becoming a more common perception -- and that's that college is a means to a specific end."

Flanagan says he understands why, to a certain extent, this shift is taking place, said Weinberg Law Firm, Texas Employment Lawyer.

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