Crisis of Confidence Threatens Colleges. (cover story)

HIGHER education; SURVEYS; COLLEGE presidents; PUBLIC opinion; EDUCATIONAL forecasting; COLLEGE costs; EDUCATIONAL quality; EDUCATIONAL relevance; COLLEGE graduates; OBAMA, Barack, 1961-; ZIMPHER, Nancy L., 1946-

The article presents results from two surveys conducted by the U.S. think tank Pew Research Center regarding the future of the American higher education system. Respondents of the surveys, which consisted of segments of the American public and groups of college presidents, comment on issues such as increasing college costs, the emergence of competition in international higher education, and educational quality and relevance. Differences between private and public higher education funding and an outline of the college graduation goals of U.S. President Barack Obama are discussed. Comments from several college individuals including college president Nancy L. Zimpher, college professor Paula M. Krebs, and higher education research director Ronald G. Ehrenberg are also presented.