Many professors in higher education are concerned about the future of education moving forward under the Trump administration with insufficient funding for education being the main issue, according to a survey of nearly 2,000 professors done by Top Hat.
By the numbers: 74% of the teachers surveyed said President Trump's administration is having a negative effect on the future of higher education in America. Among their concerns were tuition costs, student opinions and classroom engagement.
- 49% of the professors surveyed believe a post-secondary education is not necessary for success.
- 87% of professors believe tuition for students is too high.
- Professors also believe the classroom isn't engaging enough — 71% of all professors surveyed say increasing engagement is their biggest priority.
Be smart: The issue is much bigger than Trump — higher education has become less of a priority nationwide. State funding for higher education decreased in 41 states between 2008 and 2016.
Tuition for two-year degrees in 2017 rose at three times the rate of inflation compared to 2008. Four-year college degrees continued to rise in cost as well.
The bottom line: Until education becomes more of a priority nationwide, attitudes among professors won't change.
This story has been updated to add context about the scale of the problem.