Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking shared with Fox News Digital how some universities are working to lower the costs of higher education. He noted that many students are burdened with debt, and even families that could be considered upper-middle class are uncertain about affording college. Currently, the situation at various educational institutions is quite dire.
Rize Education’s Role in Cost Reduction
Rize Education, a for-profit organization, serves as a conduit for a course-sharing platform that enables universities to collaborate and provide online classes. Docking mentioned that costs in higher education are rising due to inefficiencies and a lack of support from private entities, unlike in other sectors. He proposed the concept of course sharing, allowing schools to share faculty and minimize hiring expenses.
He elaborated, saying, “If there are 10 universities within a hundred miles that each have their own German professor, that’s simply too many for the student population studying German.” The idea, then, is to consolidate resources, allowing for the sharing of one or two professors, which could lead to cost savings and the introduction of new majors. For instance, they recently initiated 38 new academic programs with just one additional professor.
Docking founded the company in 2019, persuading two Harvard graduates, Kevin Harrington and Connor McCarthy, to move from New York City to the small town of Adrian, Michigan. They joined as Docking’s assistants to gain insights into the business side of higher education.
Today, Rize has expanded to include 65 employees and has grown from serving seven universities to around 140, which is predicted to rise further. Five years back, only 40 students participated in courses offered through this platform. This year, that number is expected to exceed 10,000.
Docking mentioned that more than 1,500 students at Adrian College are currently enrolled in shared classes with other institutions. They take traditional in-person classes and then additional courses from other universities that qualify as 501(c)(3) organizations.
Gathering Congressional Interest
The platform’s success led Docking to testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee, addressing the topic of “The Future of Colleges: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Costs.” He was one of four witnesses discussing new methods to reduce student debt and better job outcomes for graduates.
He remarked, “I think my invitation to the committee reflects a collective desire to take serious action regarding the urgent need for reducing educational costs.”
Overall, rising tuition fees have forced students to accrue significant debt. As of the fourth quarter of 2023, outstanding student loans reached $1.6 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
The Evolution of Adrian College
Docking has co-authored a book, “Higher Education Crisis: A Plan to Save America’s Small Liberal Arts Colleges,” and is credited with enhancing the athletics program and significantly increasing enrollment at Adrian College since he started there in 2005. The college has expanded its offerings significantly.
With Rize’s collaboration, Adrian College now provides 27 majors, 13 minors, and eight certificates across various fields, such as business, technology, engineering, and healthcare. Docking concluded by expressing concern for the long-term implications on democracy, emphasizing the need for an educated populace and the risks of scaling back education due to costs.
