Academically Adrift?

MANIFESTO

I heard this story on the way in today, and while it doesn't necessarily surprise me, it's still pretty sad.

Richard Arum, a co-author of [Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses] and a professor of sociology at New York University, tells Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep that the fact that more than a third of students showed no improvement in critical thinking skills after four years at a university was cause for concern ...

At every university, however, there are students who defy the trend of a decline in hours spent studying — and who do improve their writing and thinking skills. The study found this to occur more frequently at more selective colleges and universities, where students learn slightly more and have slightly higher academic standards.

I suppose the latter phenomenon will probably occur at places like Johns Hopkins and Dartmouth, but when I'm watching a basketball game and look at students from places like Mississippi State, I can't help but think that they're wasting their time and their parents' money.