Future of college: Online, but no degree?
WASHINGTON — Connor Mitchell’s university classes take place online, he doesn’t have any exams and he studies in a different country every year.
Is he looking into the future or taking a gamble?
With college costs rising steadily and with more courses available online for free, some observers are beginning to question the need for a traditional college education that may include lectures on Greek philosophy but burden students with massive debt.
Education startups are offering alternatives — from boot camps, to one- or two-year tracks, to accredited degree programs — and their founders say these options will give students a more relevant education in today’s job market, and at a lower price.
But some experts caution against betting on a narrow, practical education geared toward a specific field that is in demand today but could leave them unprepared for the jobs of tomorrow. They also say most applicants still need a college degree from an established institution to get a good job.
Minerva, an accredited four-year university named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, wants to reinvent elite four-year liberal arts education by teaching critical thinking as opposed to “regurgitating information,” founder Ben Nelson said.
“You cannot teach yourself how to think critically, you actually have to go through a structured process,” said Nelson, an energetic, fast-talking 41-yearold, who previously served as president of the photo printing website Snapfish. “What is sad is that wisdom is wasted on the old. Wisdom should be the tool for the young.”
All of Minerva’s classes take place online. The interactive platform is designed to keeps student engaged and allow professors to call on them. Minerva students start school in San Francisco and then spend time in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Taipei, Taiwan, and other global hubs, continuing to take online classes and completing hands-on assignments at local companies and organizations.
Cost is $29,000 per year for tuition plus room and board, compared with an average of $20,000 for an in-state public college and $63,000 at Harvard, with which Minerva says it wants to compete.
Some employers agree that traditional university education may not be as relevant in today’s economy as it once was. Google has dropped college education from its hiring requirements, and a company official said in a 2013 interview with The New York Times that up to 14 percent of employees on some of their teams had never gone to college. The British office of Ernst & Young has also stopped requiring college diplomas.
But will other companies follow suit?
Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, is not so sure.
“You’ve got to have something that proves to the people that are going to hire that you can do the job,” Carnevale said. “Given the fluidity of the job market, it’s strangers talking to strangers, so you got to have a piece of paper. It’s a signal, it’s a proof.”
SELF-AWARENESS WORKSHOP
WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Foothills Library, 13226 E. South Frontage Road GOING ON: Pathways and solutions for prosperity and success for women; workshop is selfawareness, prosperity and success: Part 1 — understand which woman are you?; workshop features presentation, discussion and guided meditations to help you develop self-awareness; men and women welcome; free
GADGET DAY
WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Heritage Library, 350 S. 3rd Ave. GOING ON: Need help with your mobile device? Bring your cell phone, tablet, eReader, laptop and your questions and let one of the experts help you figure it out; space is limited, free
BASIC ENGLISH
WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Heritage Library, 350 S. 3rd Ave. GOING ON: Basic English will give English learners the opportunity to work together and practice basic vocabulary; for adults; space is limited, free
4-H FUNDRAISER
WHEN: Today through Sunday WHERE: Tractor Supply Co., 2221 W. 32nd St., 10637 S. Frontage Road GOING ON: Yuma-area students involved with 4-H will help raise funds to attend youth development programs, camps and leadership conferences throughout Arizona; Tractor Supply Co. customers can support them by purchasing paper clovers at checkout; funds raised will be awarded as scholarships to local 4-H members COST: $1 or more
LUTES TAKEOVER
WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Lutes Casino, 221 S. Main St. GOING ON: Local Odyssey of the Mind (creative problem solving) teams are raising money to get to the World Finals in Michigan; silent auction, percentage of food and drink proceeds will go to OM teams; free admission
CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Foothills Library, 13226 E. South Frontage Road GOING ON: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and learn about the Battle of Puebla and the significance of May 5 in Mexican history; program offered in English and Spanish; free
SELF-AWARENESS WORKSHOP
WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Foothills Library, 13226 E. South Frontage Road GOING ON: Pathways and solutions for prosperity and success for women; workshop is selfawareness, prosperity and success: Part 2 — become aware: what is holding you back?; workshop features presentation, discussion and guided meditation to help you develop self-awareness; men and women welcome; free
FAMILY, COMMUNITY MEDICINE
WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. WHERE: YRMC Medical Plaza, Conference Room, 1501 W. 24th St. GOING ON: Dr. Kristina Diaz, program director of Family and Community Residency program, will give a presentation on YRMC’s Family and Community Residency program; topics include what are a resident’s responsibilities, what does this program offer to YRMC and the community; what does the future hold for the training program and other training programs at YRMC; free INFO: To RSVP, call (928) 336-7043
CIBOLA JAZZ BAND CONCERT
WHEN: 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. WHERE: Cibola High School auditorium, 4100 W. 20th St. GOING ON: The Cibola and All-City Jazz Band will present their final concert of the school year with classic and contemporary jazz music performed, featuring some of the best young musicians in the community COST: $3 INFO: Call (928) 502-5977 or email adallabetta@yumaunion.org
WEATHER SERVICE STORM SPOTTER
WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Yuma County Public Health Auditorium, 2200 W. 28th St., west main entrance GOING ON: A free training class to teach people how to properly identify and report significant weather phenomena and contribute to public safety; learn how thunderstorms work, how to identify cloud features associated with microbursts and tornadoes, visually estimate wind speeds, and how your reports tie in to warnings and advisories issued by the National Weather Service; immediately following presentation, completion certificates will be issued, program
BOOK CLUB
WHEN: 10 a.m. WHERE: Wellton Library, 28790 San Jose Ave. GOING ON: Discuss the book “The Jaguar’s Children” by John Vaillant; free
BASIC ENGLISH
WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Heritage Library, 350 S. 3rd Ave. GOING ON: Basic English will give English learners the opportunity to work together and practice basic vocabulary; for adults; space is limited, free
CINCO DE MAYO
WHEN: 6 to 11 p.m. WHERE: Historic downtown, main street GOING ON: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with family fun, live music, singers, belly dancers, traditional Mexican food vendors, unique booths, a Cerveza Garden in front of historic Yuma Theatre, INFO: Call (928) 373-5028 or visit yumaaz.gov