Meeting the Decline in College Enrollments Using the Money Game in the Classroom

Authors

  • K.H. Johnson
  • D.S. Shannon

Abstract

"Colleges and universities are said to be at the onset of an era characterized by declining enrollments--examplified by the fact that some institutions have already experienced a decline while others have witnessed a ‘leveling off’ of enrollment. (In general, public institutions perhaps have fared better than private due to the higher tuition costs of the latter.) The reasons cited for the current and forecasted declines in enrollment are many, among which are: (1) there are relatively fewer college-age individuals--due to the fact that the ‘baby boom’ children have completed that phase of their careers; (2) of those eligible for college, some are voluntarily choosing professions or careers which do not require a college education--partly due to higher wages currently being paid in these professions and partly due to the ‘back-to-the-simple-life’ or ‘back-to-earth’ life style that is in vogue; and last (3) some individuals feel they cannot afford the spiraling costs of a higher education. Faced with this problem, current efforts by the institutions seems to be devoted primarily to enticing students to enroll in their particular Institution by modifying requirements, offering special services, and other strategies which may even include the lowering of academic standards. However, they are essentially competing among themselves for students who have already made the decision to attend college. Perhaps their energies should be focused on persuading students who have decided not to continue their education to reconsider their decisions. It is partly due to this latter line of thinking that an expanded use for ‘the money game’ was developed. But first, we must describe what the money game is."

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Published

1974-03-13