干预与反干预之争——美国首个联邦政府大学评级体系的构建

Dispute over Federal Intervention——Construction of Federal College Ratings in the U.S.

2014年,美国联邦政府公布《新的大学评级体系框架》草案,直接干预高等教育评估,意图构建自己的大学评级体系。此举引发了联邦政府与高等教育界干预与反干预之争。联邦干预高等教育评估的原因主要是高等教育长期以来存在着学费上涨、毕业率低以及贷款还款违约率高等问题,且认为高等教育现有的评估对此无能为力。奥巴马政府以公平和绩效为导向,意图促进大学扩大弱势群体入学机会,增加大学教育的可支付性以及提升教育结果。但反干预者认为,联邦政府没必要干预高等教育评估,而且其设计的大学评级不但指标体系存在问题,在操作上也不可行。这种干预和反干预之争最终使联邦大学评级体系并没有按照预先设计实行,而变成了简单的信息公布。

There is a dispute over federal intervention in higher education evaluation featured by the Admin- istration＇ s college ratings plan. The main reasons for federal intervention are to combat rising college costs, reduce deferment and default of federal loans, and make students succeed and graduate on time. Obama＇s college-rating system aims at equity and performance by expanding access, ensuring affordability, and improving student out- comes. But the opponents argue that it is unnecessary and impossible for the federal government to do so. More- over, the indicators in the draft bring about more problems. This dispute thwarts the rating system, and makes it end up as providing simple information.