Eagles and Ostriches

So in wrapping up this particular thread, here's where we are: students are not customers, they are students, and colleges should worry more about teaching them than marketing to them. Students are adults responsible for their own learning, and should have some say, especially regarding macro issues, in that education. Professors are responsible for providing students opportunities to learn, and should have some say, especially regarding micro issues, in that education. The question then becomes, where is the line for students and professors in having "some say," i.e., responsibility and determination, in college education?

It's my impression that both students and professors draw that line a bit too far towards college/professor influence. Students pretty much expect to be told what to do, and faculty and staff pretty much expect to do the telling. That's OK for a lot of things, but it would be nice for students to take more initiative and have more responsibility for their education. From more thoroughly considering the options for choosing and matriculating into colleges, to designing and planning programs, to participating in and completing courses, students might be more proactive, or at least have the opportunity to be so. Whether it's cause or effect, professors/colleges, in my opinion, tend to be too extreme in providing structure and requirements for students under the guise that we know what's best for them. Again, this is a matter of degree; I just think that too many of us go a little too far in determining what's good for others.

The latest example at our school is the impending implementation of a requirement for students to meet with their advisors before being allowed to register for classes. Putting aside the very real concerns about feasibililty, I am distressed about students being demeaned this way, i.e, forced to do what others believe is good for them. Of course meeting with an advisor is a good idea, but it should be the student's idea.

There is something in academia called "academic freedom" for professors. It would be nice if there was more of this for students as well.