Are Students Customers?

Edward A. Snyder, Dean of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, disagrees with the current trend of treating students as customers.  As he notes, "Do we really want to tell them that they are customers―and that they are always right―when we are in the last, best position to influence their overall academic, ethical, and professional development?"  He goes on to say, "Instead of the customer is always right, we ought to go with a version of you get what you put into it."  Thus, we should encourage our students to put more into their education by setting high expectations, recognizing when they reach these (and when they don't).   You can read his thoughts on the topic here:  Download students_as_customers.doc

Thanks to Professor Brooke Stanley (University of South Florida-Sarasota) for sending this article to me.