Tuition and Businesses

[Andrew Finnerty]

Food for thought: We could get help from big business throughout
Michigan!

Imagine a coalition of businesses throughout Michigan that would pay
for approved classes if the worker received a C or higher. They may
not pay for Yoga 101, but I bet they'd appreciate some of their
employees trying to improve their accounting skills. These businesses
may even approve all classes within certain degrees, or within certain
fields. This encourages employees to be better students and to become
better workers. They may even raise above their current standard of
living and into new jobs within the company. It helps the company's
resource pool. Businesses may also like it because they will reap the
direct benefit - and give the direct pay rather than losing money
through bureaucracy. Businesses OVERALL (not just the ones that
participate in the pact) could show that taxes can be lowered because
of the investment push.

We could start with the top 10 employers and the top 10 gross earners
in Michigan. These businesses, if they agreed to some sort of pact -
could use their lobbying power to put pressure on Universities NOT to
raise tuition. The Universities then have incentive NOT to! They will
get the signal that free marketeers appreciate the service. Obviously
- there will be student groups that track Degree success after
graduation and will be able to help businesses and the schools what
programs are no longer viable.

Is a Business/Student Coalition a good idea? Discuss below: