Question 1

Post your position on the issue described in the case study. Provide at least three points in support of your position. The case study is in an attachment below.

Question 2

Submit a post covering each of the following elements:

Explain what you have discovered about the issue from the debate and from the resources you located for this discussion.

Identify answers to questions you have raised about the issue.

Identify new questions you have now that you have discovered more about the issue.

Explain how you might apply the critical analysis and research skills you have been practicing this week to your student and professional roles.

Case Study for Issues in Higher Education

The materials in this case study are a combination of authentic public domain documents and simulated documents created specifically for the case study that draw on authentic research and data from government and scholarly sources, and from the opinions of experts in the field. The scenario outlines real issues in higher education, but Rogal College is a fictional institution, invented for the purposes of this case study.

Scenario

You are on the "Programming & Curriculum Development" task force of a small, private college, Rogal College, which is trying to improve its national standing as an undergraduate institution. Your task is to take a stand on whether the institution should increase curricular focus, funding, and new hiring for professional and technical fields or maintain a more purely academic, liberal arts education with a focus on the humanities.

As you examine this issue, consider the following perspectives: What role does a college or university play in society? How will the college's decision to alter or maintain its curricular focus affect students and alumni?

How will the college's decision affect funding and academic status for the institution? What is the best preparation Rogal can offer to help its students succeed after graduation? How will the task force's decision affect pedagogy in the classroom?

Finally, take into consideration various stakeholders: current and future students, alumni, current teaching staff, the administration, and business leaders.