Colleges and universities show view their students as customers, just as businesses do?

Question

Colleges and universities show view their students as customers, just as businesses do?

Answer 1

No, because what would happen is that colleges would focus more of their attention on the "money makers" and drain resources from other programs, such as arts & humanities, sociology, and other more academically oriented careers.  

You may think that it's stupid to graduate with an art degree, but a well-educated citizenry requires that we are able to understand such things as literature and public policy, because they are an integral part of our culture and heritage.

Answer 2

Absolutely not. If that was the case, then they would cut funding in many areas of education from the various programs offered which do no attract as many students, so they are unable to financially keep them going to the staff cuts, fewer teachers and of poor quality to keep the costs down.

Furthermore if they where run like a business, their main aim would be to make a profit and not provide quality resources and give the clients (students) the value for money that their education deserves. They would focus on cutting costs and saving money, rather than spending it in the areas where it is most needed.

Students should be treated as they are 'titled' - as students who are their to learn, to get an education of value by using the best technology and resources available from some of best teachers in their field of study. Without worrying about when the next budget cut will come, when the next increase in tuition will come to price out those with less financial capabilites.