Authored by Mike McDaniel via AmericanThinker.com,
As someone who transitioned into teaching high school English later in my career, I couldn’t help but notice some troubling trends in the realm of higher education. These trends were driven by a combination of factors: the abandonment of merit, the federal government’s takeover of the student loan industry, and the rising influence of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hysteria.
Under the administration of Barack Obama, the federalization of the student loan industry led to the idea that college should be accessible to everyone.
This move required the government to guarantee student loans, resulting in unintended consequences. Colleges, no longer financially invested, began hiring excessive administrators, demanding more money, and admitting students who were not academically prepared for college-level work. Predictive tests like the SAT were abandoned in favor of admitting students based solely on their ability to secure a student loan, with exceptions for white males applying to prestigious institutions.
Massive DEI departments were established, wasting millions on unnecessary administrative roles and consultants.
This lack of preparedness led to the need for remedial programs on campus, essentially a financial scam that benefited the colleges at the expense of the students. Grade inflation became rampant to cover up the shortcomings of these programs, leading to a generation of students expecting high grades for minimal effort.
Many students took longer than necessary to obtain their degrees, or dropped out with significant debt and no qualifications. While I believe in the importance of access to higher education, it should be based on merit and fiscal responsibility.
Recent efforts under the Trump Administration have aimed to address these issues and restore credibility to college degrees. However, challenges persist, as evidenced by the University of Michigan’s lenient policies:
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The University of Michigan now offers students a semester to adjust to the demands of their education? Not long ago, students were expected to be prepared from day one, with academic probation as a consequence for those who struggled.
Is there truly a “mental health crisis” at the University of Michigan stemming from the expectations of college-level work? Graduating individuals who lack the mental fortitude for academic challenges does not bode well for the reputation of degrees from the University of Michigan.
The case of Jason Arday at Cambridge University, known for its academic excellence, is telling. Despite lacking teaching skills, engaging in plagiarism, and crying racism to deflect criticism, Arday received support and praise, raising questions about the integrity of the academic system.
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It is evident that replacing merit with identity politics and perpetual grievances has had detrimental effects on higher education and society at large. Colleges should serve as a platform for academic and character development, emphasizing qualities like hard work, determination, and integrity.