Causing the College Credentials Craze

George Leef

A cause, if not the cause of the college credentials craze (that is, companies ruling out applicants who don't have college degrees even for simple jobs that most high school kids could learn) was the Supreme Court's decision in Griggs v. Duke Power in 1971. In my latest Forbes piece, I explain how that ruling, which mangled the clear words of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to give anti-testing zealots in the EEOC what they wanted, started the credentials mania. I also raise a question that should trouble the higher ed establishment: what if the Court were to apply the logic of Griggs to the widespread requirement of a college degree for work that doesn't clearly necessity any college study or training? That would deflate the bubble very quickly.

  • Share

Most Commented

January 24, 2024

1.

After Claudine

The idea has caught on that the radical left overplayed its hand in DEI and is now vulnerable to those of us who seek major reforms. This is not, however, the first time that the a......

February 13, 2024

2.

The Great Academic Divorce with China

All signs show that American education is beginning a long and painful divorce with the People’s Republic of China. But will academia go through with it?...

October 31, 2023

3.

University of Washington Violated Non-Discrimination Policy, Internal Report Finds

A faculty hiring committee at the University of Washington “inappropriately considered candidates’ races when determining the order of offers,” provided “disparate op......

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

2.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...

July 8, 2011

3.

Ask a Scholar: What Is Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism?

Professor Jonathan Imber clarifies concepts of sociologocal theory....