Preparing students for the workforce isn’t the most important purpose of higher education, according to a survey of the trustees that lead the country’s colleges and universities.
Only 22 percent of the trustees surveyed said that preparing students for careers is the most important role that colleges and universities can play. Preparing graduates to lead meaningful lives and be engaged citizens took the top spots. Making sure they’re ready for work came in third.
Gallup contacted 1,400 trustees from public and private institutions, in March and April. for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.