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UNH President Pushes Back Against Online Education At 'Walmart Prices'

Mike Ross
/
UNH Photographic Services

  Mark Huddleston, President of the University of New Hampshire, delivered his annual State of the University on Tuesday. 

The University President’s speech began with a list of successes: from restored legislative funding to $20 million for a new school of public policy.   

But President Mark Huddleston’s hour-long address soon moved to challenges facing his school’s very model of higher education.

His concerns included decreasing enrollment, climbing tuition, and competition from online and private universities:

Small wonder then, that we’re advised to call it a day. Throw everything online, substitute call centers for face to face interactions, and award competency based credits for college level analogs of GED degrees, all so our customers can enjoy every day, Walmart prices.

Huddleston asserted that building new facilities are critical to maintaining enrollment at the University. He was perhaps aiming the remark at criticism of a new $25 million  athletic complex, announced earlier this week. 

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