Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander says colleges should help students finish their degrees in only three years.
In a cover story for Newsweek Magazine, the senator calls on schools to graduate students more efficiently.
Alexander says he wants schools to take a hard look at traditions like the four-year degree, and summer vacation.
He says colleges already pay to maintain campuses all year, but many only use their facilities about half the time. So he says keeping classrooms in more steady use would be a good investment.
“It would be some more cost, but a lot more income. At a university usually other than the faculty cost, the highest cost is the cost of the facilities. If you can get the cost of the facilities down, most educational institutions can operate very well.”
Alexander says colleges should provide a clear plan for students who can commit to graduating early.
Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Charles Manning says it’s possible now for a dedicated student to finish in three years. But he says he sees relatively little demand for such a program.
Manning says most students spend five to six years getting their degree.
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