President Crutcher calls for better measure of accountability in higher education

In an essay published by the Boston Globe, Wheaton President Ronald A. Crutcher called on Congress to establish a broader and more accurate method for holding colleges accountable to the public.

''The congressional proposal to construct a college affordability index as the sole measure of whether an institution is well-managed and delivers value is the kind of one-size-fits-all solution that everyone can understand but no reasonable person would want to support,'' the president said in his essay, which was published on Monday, Aug. 8. ''Unfortunately, there has been little discussion of this plan, which represents just one small section of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act snaking its way through Congress.

''If the cost of college tuition were the only thing that mattered, this would be a reasonable plan. The reality is more complex. Most college students and their families also care about an institution's reputation and the quality of its educational programs. They also care about how successful colleges are in helping students earn degrees on time, about what graduates do with their degrees, and how satisfied students are with their college experience.''

President Crutcher took office on July 15, 2004 as the the first African American to lead the college. Beyond his leadership responsibilities at Wheaton, President Crutcher is the chair of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He also has served as a board member to numerous arts and educational organizations, including the Fulbright Association.