More with less, redux.

President Obama wants millions more Americans to go to, and finish, college—a terrific goal. It is also fundamentally at odds with budget cuts in higher ed. Of course that fact is obvious; what makes it compelling are human stories like this one, by Katharine Mieszkowski of the New York Times. If you see (or have written) other pieces on real-life examples of budget cuts’ possible effects on students’ ability to finish college, please link to them in the comments here. Certainly financial aid is a factor; I am also encouraging reporters to look at departments that, often by accident of timing, are suffering disproportionately in the share of teaching slots frozen or cut, and what that means, practically, for students majoring in those subjects. Is the price of college effectively increased because being unable to get the courses you need makes it longer to graduate?