An "Indebted" Education

Today, NYT ran another great article in its series on Debt Trap- Unspoken Link Between Credit Cards and Colleges. In it the writer, Mr. Glater, describes the connections between Colleges and Finance Companies and how the Colleges have a vested interest in promoting the use of financial instruments by the students and alumni. The Colleges get a certain amount when a credit card with the school logo is used, as an example.

Every school or College talks about its "business model," and how to raise sufficient revenues and endowment funds to support its growth. The mantra in business is 'Grow or Die.' Some questions arise-

1. Is an educational institution like any other business- should the focus be on growth?
2. While revenues are needed to support operations, what constraints should be put on the means to raise revenues?
3. If growth is the focus, what kind of growth is appropriate in this business?
4. If commercial (and non-commercial firms) need good employees to grow, what monies are the shareholders going to invest in education?
   

Question 2 deals directly with the behavior of Colleges in the Fuzzy Cloud of Finance. Should colleges reject money that comes from assisting corporations in selling to students? Should every company be required to contribute a certain percent of its profits towards education, rather than exploiting colleges and students?
Our school offers two-1/4 credit courses called Financial Smarts, which are intended to teach good financial management practices to students. Only business students usually take it, so these reach only a fraction of the overall student population. While these courses are valuable, should they be the ones that protect students from exploitation by the smart companies? What is the responsibility of students in all of this?