CONTENTS

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS   ix

FOREWORD TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION   xvii

CONTRIBUTORS   xxv

Part 1. Costs and Productivity in Higher Education   1

Cost Trends, the “Cost Disease,” and Productivity in Higher Education   2

Factors Other Than the Cost Disease Pushing Up Educational Costs   9

Affordability   18

Is There a Serious Problem—Even a Crisis?   24

Notes   27

Part 2. Prospects for an Online Fix   43

Background   44

The Lack of Hard Evidence   46

The Need for Customizable, Sustainable Platforms (or Tool Kits)   55

The Need for New Mindsets—and Fresh Thinking about Decision-Making   62

What Must We Retain?   67

Appendix: The Online Learning Landscape   72

Notes   77

Discussion by Howard Gardner   97

Discussion by John Hennessy   109

William G. Bowen’s Responses to Discussion Session Comments by Howard Gardner and John Hennessy   123

Discussion by Andrew Delbanco   129

Discussion by Daphne Koller   145

William G. Bowen’s Responses to Discussion Session Comments by Andrew Delbanco and Daphne Koller   157

APPENDIX TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION   163

INDEX   191