By James Taplin, OSU College of Business
Thursday, February 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., Austin Hall 100
Is college a launchpad for possibility or the world’s most expensive group project? Before you answer, pull up a chair. This student‑run dialogue workshop invites participants—OSU students, faculty, and staff—to question, challenge, and rethink what higher education is really worth. Rather than offering easy answers, the evening creates space for curiosity, critique, and honest reflection about the role of college in a changing world.
Why this conversation, and why now
As a Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellow this year, I have collaborated with students to develop this student-run dialogue workshop: “Scholars or Suckers: Is Higher Education a Swindle?”. It promises to be an evening of spirited inquiry, collaborative learning, and student‑led facilitation as we ask, “Is higher education a swindle.” Our goal is to invite a deeper examination of what higher education promises, what it delivers, and how it can evolve to better serve diverse learners and communities. Higher education has long been seen as a pathway to opportunity, yet many students, families, and educators are grappling with doubts about whether that promise still holds.
These concerns are not abstract. As costs climb and student debt grows, many wonder whether the financial investment aligns with the outcomes they hope for. Job prospects can feel uncertain, and degrees increasingly function as gatekeeping tools rather than clear pathways to meaningful work. At the same time, higher education faces broader social criticisms, including unequal access, cultural elitism, and questions about whether universities challenge or reinforce existing inequities. These tensions shape how people experience college and influence how they imagine its future.
This workshop offers a chance to slow down and explore these issues together. By bringing people into conversation rather than debate, we aim to create a space where participants can think critically without defensiveness, listen generously, and consider perspectives beyond their own.
What to expect
This is not a lecture or a panel. It is an interactive, student‑run dialogue designed to model facilitation strategies that support productive, respectful engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to observe facilitation techniques in action and practice them in real time. Throughout the evening, participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, question assumptions, and explore the contradictions and possibilities embedded in higher education.
Together, we will consider what higher education promises, what it delivers, and how it might evolve to better serve diverse learners and communities. The workshop invites participants to think not only about the challenges facing universities but also about the opportunities for transformation.
Who should attend
Everyone in the university community has a stake in this conversation. Students navigating their academic journeys, faculty reflecting on their teaching practices, and staff committed to student success all bring valuable insights. By gathering people across roles and backgrounds, the workshop aims to strengthen dialogue skills, deepen understanding, and build connections that extend beyond the event itself.
Join the conversation
We look forward to welcoming participants for an evening that promises to be engaging, challenging, and energizing. Add your voice, listen generously, and help shape a richer, more reflective dialogue about the value of higher education in a changing world. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please register for the event.
About the author: James Taplin is an instructor in the College of Business with a background in entrepreneurship, philosophy, and civil discourse. Since joining the Beaver community in 2022, he has been committed to fostering constructive dialogue through his pedagogy, course design, and leadership of the COB Discourse Program.
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