AMARILLO, TX -- Last week, Governor Rick Perry challenged educators to come up with a way to offer a four year, college degree including books, for $10,000.
"It's a challenge...I think he's trying to ensure affordable, accessible education to the citizens of Texas," says WTAMU President, J. Patrick O'Brien.
But trying to find a way to charge only $10,0000 for a bachelor's degree would require major changes.
"If he's talking about a degree, a 4 year degree, total cost to everybody of 10,000 dollars, it's going to require a major restructuring."
O'Brien added you would have to restructure the entire system: increase class sizes and the amount given by the state by 2 or 3 fold, reduce course offerings and maybe cut back on the number of courses students take to get a degree.
For students like Sally Schaeffer, graduating this year with a geology degree, a $10,000 education sounds great...
"If degrees are only 10,000 dollars, everybody can go to school, everybody can get an education, everybody can have the future they deserve," she said.
But if you reduce courses, offered more online, and cut the time at school, you would eliminate some of the foundations that are irreplaceable.
"Because it's more than just what takes place into he classroom--it's the full college experience, "notes O'Brien.
A feeling mirrored by Schaeffer. "I don't know if I'd trade anything for the experience I've had in the last 4 years."
O'Brien says W-T is one of the least expensive four year universities in the state, and they're constantly looking for ways to keep costs down. And headed that since he's been in office, they've reduced course fees by almost $600,000 and they've reduced the distance education fees for online classes by $200,000 for full time students.
