STUDENTS ARE CONSUMERS, COLLEGES ARE BUSINESSES
I. INTRODUCTION The concepts of business, target marketing and consumerism have collectively intersected with a number social sector that have otherwise had no historical ties to such an association; the transformation of heretofore nonbusiness entities into those whose continued existence in today's globalized world hinges upon the ability to out-market the competition speaks to the significant changes in such areas as academia. Institutes of higher education have experienced a virtual reconstruction of how and why they recruit inasmuch as the tide has turned whereby colleges are pursuing potential student instead of students begging to be accepted. Several reasons are responsible for this switch with universities offering attractive perks, not the least of which includes distance learning and foregoing college diplomas altogether. Critics argue how retaining students based upon such enticements - such as studying abroad, dorm room maid service and fully outfitted exercise rooms - strays too far from the primary focus of why students are at college in the first place.
Educators argue that perks like these can distract even the best students from classroom obligations…Fancy or not, schools argue that these programs haven't lost their value and still have plenty of serious activities (Bernstein).
II. IS A DEGREE NECESSARY? Academia cannot afford to be left behind in these drastically changing economic and technological times. Indeed, the extent to which students have a gained the upper hand in choosing where and how they acquire higher education is both grand and far-
reaching; that universities are feeling the financial pinch of students earning their degrees from home and those choosing to pursue high-paying careers that do not require diplomas speaks to the need to reinvent student interest in brick & mortar