Outsourcing has become a standard component of a free market system today, with companies heading to outside sources for everything from customer service to health care support. Now community colleges appear to be a part of the outsourcing model, with schools using alternative resources for instruction, curriculum and even grading papers!
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing
A research report from Stanford University, titled "Outsourcing of Instruction at Community Colleges," lists many of the advantages and drawbacks of using outside sources for educating college students. Some of the benefits of the practice include:
- Outsourcing can lead to more efficient and higher quality education.
- A standardized curriculum offers consistency in quality.
- A competitive market usually means a higher quality of product and service.
- There are cost savings between hiring additional faculty and outsourcing teaching services.
By the same token, opponents of the outsourcing concept cite some of the drawbacks to the practice:
- Profit-making industries present a conflict of interest with the public goals of colleges.
- Outsourcing could undermine the tenure-based employment system.
- The quality of teaching could be lower.
- There is a lack of control by faculty over curriculum and course design.
While the jury appears to still be out on whether outsourcing is a good idea for community colleges, many schools and companies are proceeding with plans to broaden the scope of higher education through sources outside the mainstream education sector.
This video offers an overview of teaching in a community college.