Honoring the Trust: Quality and Cost Containment in Higher Education

How does higher education honor (or dishonor) the trust that society places in it? While colleges and universities may perform an adequate job of educating students, this book argues that institutions might still improve their competency while reining costs.In Honoring the Trust, the author examines how the environment of higher education and institutional policies has led to shortfalls in education competency. Rather than simply list the flaws in higher education, this book presents a practical program for improving the quality of higher education without increasing spending or sacrificing other priorities. Based on research performed at the National Center for Postsecondary Improvement, it provides a description of the problems that are currently facing institutions of higher education, and envisions solutions to these problems.

The book identifies major challenges facing institutions and faculty as they work to assure education quality, including:

• The public's eroding trust in higher education
• Education quality processes
• Paradigm-changing technology
• Cost consciousness
• Core competency in education
• Building awareness and commitments to improvement

Written in engaging prose for readers ranging from seasoned academic leaders to concerned citizens outside of the academy, this book creates a venue for ongoing discussion and offers practical guidance to readers desirous of driving change in higher education.