…and none too soon. Richard Vedder, author of Going Broke By Degree, is leading a new organization called the Center for College Affordability and Productivity CCAP will provide “research on the issues of rising costs and stagnant efficiency in higher education, with special emphasis on the United States.” It describes its mission as follows (emphases mine):
“Affordability” means not only rising tuition and other costs to the consumer of education services, but more broadly the burden that colleges impose on society. “Productivity” refers not only to the costs and resources needed to educate students and perform research, but also to the measurement and quality of educational outcomes. CCAP is also concerned about finding new ways to do things better – to improve affordability and productivity. In particular, it is interested in how the forces of the market can be used to make higher education more affordable and qualitatively better. The Center disseminates its findings in many ways, such as through written studies, conferences, opinion pieces, electronic media interviews, and a web log (blog). It welcomes comments and dissenting views from all users.