A Citizen’s Toolkit for Higher-Ed Reform
Higher education is in crisis. The cost of attendance keeps rising, standards keep falling, and students are reading trendy novels instead of the Great Books. Many never finish their degrees. Free speech is under threat, and, across campuses, activism has taken the place of real scholarship.
Despite the obvious problems, too many trustees and lawmakers lack the courage to push for real reform. That’s why parents, students, and taxpayers need to take the lead. Follow the checklist below to help get higher education back on track.
1. Stop giving unrestricted gifts to your alma mater — and tell them why.
Write to the university’s development office explaining why you’ve stopped donating to the general fund—or why you’ve chosen not to give at all. Be clear and specific about your reasons. You might also send a version of that letter to the editor of a campus or local newspaper to reach a wider audience. If you still want to support your alma mater, consider giving directly to student organizations or small programs that uphold real academic and moral standards.
2. Start or join a chapter of the Alumni Free Speech Alliance.
AFSA chapters are already active on 27 campuses across the country, including UNC-Chapel Hill and Davidson College. Learn how to start your own chapter—or join an existing one—by visiting this link. For practical guidance on organizing, check out our report: Rules for Academic Reformers.
3. Send your children to universities where truth is prized above ideology.
Support those programs, too. Colleges that operate without federal funding—such as Hillsdale and Grove City—provide excellent education while remaining free from government intrusion. If you prefer a larger public or private university, seek out one with a Christian Study Center or an academic program that shares your values. (See #6 for more details.)
4. Hire talent with alternative or nontraditional credentials.
In your own organization, don’t overlook applicants with nontraditional backgrounds—those who’ve earned certificates, completed military service, or graduated from trade schools or coding academies. Hire based on character, experience, skills, and potential rather than just degrees. And remember, a strong candidate with an associate’s degree can be just as capable as someone with a bachelor’s.
5. Invest in the next generation — start an apprenticeship program at your business.
Give motivated but inexperienced employees the opportunity to learn on the job, show what they can do, and grow as valuable team members. To explore how to set up apprenticeships, visit apprenticeship.gov.
6. Support a university center dedicated to exploring important ideas.
The Martin Center published a report on these centers titled Renewal in the University, which examines “privately funded centers and institutes that preserve and promote the traditional knowledge and perspectives once at the heart of higher education.”
7. Give your children a timeless education — at home or through a classical private or charter school.
It will equip them with the ideas and confidence they need to resist campus groupthink. A solid foundation in education is the best defense you can give your children against the pressures and indoctrination they’ll encounter from peers and professors alike.
8. Help the Martin Center provide sunlight.
Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” If your alma mater or local university is violating student rights, promoting activism in place of education, or misusing public funds, tell us about it. Shining a light on waste and abuse is the first step toward ending it. You can send us a tip HERE or reach out to our editor, Graham Hillard.
9. Read a book that reveals what’s truly happening on today’s campuses.
Browse the Martin Center’s library catalog for ideas, or reach out to our president, Jenna Robinson, for a personal recommendation. A great place to start is Richard Vedder’s Restoring the Promise: Higher Education in America.
10. Reach out to your state representatives!
A phone call or handwritten letter is most effective. Let your representatives know you’re frustrated with public funds being spent on trendy, politicized, or low-quality programs. Urge them to make sure public universities deliver real value to both students and taxpayers. You can find your state legislators HERE.