Students might not be learning as much as they think while in college, according to a recent study.
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a group which promotes "limited government, individual liberty ... market economy, and moral norms" according to their Website,recently published a study that claims elite colleges and universities are not teaching their students enough about civic education. Esteemed schools including the University, Cornell, Yale and Princeton were among those at the bottom of the list in terms of their students' civic knowledge.
In the fall of 2006, the ISI commissioned the University of Connecticut's Department of Public Policy to administer a 60-question test on "America's history and institutions" to more than 14,000 students in 50 different colleges, including the University, according to Dr. Gary Scott, senior research fellow at ISI.
The survey recorded the net change in test scores between each student's freshman and senior year in order to analyze how much students had learned during their time at college. Eastern Connecticut State University earned the top spot, although its students had the second-lowest freshman average, while Cornell came in last.
"The main conclusion is that college seniors failed on average with 52.4 percent," Scott said. "They failed to gain knowledge after arriving on college campuses. You will also further see that the most prestigious universities were the worst performers."
The University ranked 38th in terms of enhancing students' knowledge.
Ken Stroupe, Center for Politics chief of staff, agreed with ISI that America "has failed to make civic education a priority in this country," but thought that issue related to K-12 education as opposed to college and universities.
"One should not expect that colleges and universities have a civic responsibility to do their part in ensuring that the young people of this country are engaged in a democratic process," Stroupe said.
Stroupe also found that the study's use of collegiate education of America's institutions to be a poor indicator that colleges and universities are failing to teach their students.
"To get scores as high as where the University starts out would require a lot of remedial coursework," Stroupe said. "It is not the role of the University to be an institution that focuses heavily on remedial coursework."
ISI, however, places the burden of responsibility upon institutions of higher education.
"There is blame to go around, but more to be placed on colleges," Scott said. "Learning is the critical aim of any institution. The more you gain during your undergraduate years, the more inclined you are to engage in American policy."
Scott reinforced the study's conclusion by citing evidence that the school with the highest achieving average, Yale University, failed to break 70 percent.
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