The Cooperative University: A Radical Shift of the Higher Education Model

 Universities have become unaffordable, inaccessible, and out of touch with what society actually needs.  There have been many potential solutions to these problems, with online education being the most plausible, in my opinion; however, I believe these ideas fail to get to the root of the problems of our current educational system.  What is needed is a radical shift in how we conceive of higher education.

 Students do not have autonomy over their educational experience.  Students are passive actors within a system that has allowed tuition rates to skyrocket, syllabi and teaching models to become out of sync with reality, and budgets and institutional investments to fail to meet students’ ethos.  I propose a cooperative model for higher education.  A cooperative university would address many of my complaints of our current higher education model. 

According to the International CooperativeAlliance, 

“A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.” 

Is this not what college should be?  

 

The cooperative university, informed by the cooperative movement, would be founded in the RochdalePrinciples:

1. Democratic Member Control

Every member gets one vote and an equal voice.  University policies and budgets are determined by voting members rather than a Board of Regents.   Students, then, are active participants in shaping their educational experience.  Students, faculty, and staff come together to democratically decide the governance of the university.  Those representing the university in positions of governance are held directly responsible to its voting members. 

2. Voluntary and Open Membership

Acceptance into the university will be open to people from all backgrounds and identities.  The membership system will be established in a way so as not to perpetuate the knowledge-based oppression of people of lower socio-economic classes.

3. Member Economic Participation

A cooperative university is an investment; everyone has a share of ownership.  There is not tuition, but member charges.   Any surplus resources are reallocated back to student and faculty development, and the development of the university.  All funds, including faculty salaries, student scholarships, etc., are approved by the membership. Members are required to contribute “work hours,” which could range from sitting on operational or budgetary committees, to attending or teaching classes, to contributing to course projects.  These contributions develop a sense of ownership and community, help to keep costs lower, and offer students marketable experience. 

4. Autonomy and Independence

The curriculum and learning format are decided by all members.  Because decisions are made on a “one member, one vote” basis, students have just as much say as professors in determining their education.  During the first week of classes, the students and instructors decide together what will be included in the course.  Students will have a say in what they learn and decide what is relevant to their lives outside of the classroom.  In this model, if it works correctly, those with the most experience tend to be acknowledged; if an instructor has experience in his or her field, they will be able to propose what is being talked about and studied in the field, and that will hold some weight.  Students can then take that information to make informed decisions on what they’re learning, and alternative opinions or dissensions can be more easily addressed.  Furthermore, students have the power to determine the requirements for graduation, the direction of their education, and the ability to create their own majors. 

5. Education, Training and Information

Because students are active participants in the operational activities of the university, they will gain concrete, real world experience to prepare them for the job market while they are in school.  Students will graduate with knowledge in business management, financial literacy, and the ability to work with others. 

6. Co-operation among Co-operatives

Alongside cooperative education, students will live in cooperative housing.  Analogous to dorm life, co-op housing will supplement students’ education with the social aspect of college.  Co-op housing can provide an intellectual community to extend classroom discussion, provide networking opportunities, and also foster friendships and a social life for students.  Furthermore, members of the university would be encouraged to utilize cooperative banks, food markets, etc. 

7. Concern for Community

The cooperative university will maintain a commitment to progressive, social justice activities and the development of the greater community through policy and direct action.  It will be a place for diversity of identity and thought.  Furthermore, while upholding high standards for its members, it would be open to anyone with an interest in the cooperative movement and a desire to learn.

Do you think a cooperative university would work?  How could we incorporate some of these principles into the current system?  Are there any elements of this model that would not work?  Please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Disclaimer: a conversation with my friend, +Ryan Dougherty, largely inspired the ideas presented in this post.