The Pennsylvania State Board of Education is looking into establishing bare-bones colleges, according to Philly.com.

No sports teams. No extracurriculars. No super gymnasium or plum dorm room.

If you have trouble envisioning this institution, perhaps the metaphor used by the Board of Education will help.

“Somewhere, there should be a no-frills option. Let’s see if there’s a market for a Yugo or a Ford,” board chairman Joseph Torsella said.

The idea is being sent over to Harrisburg for review by the House, Senate, and Governor Rendell.

It’d be a shame if this type of institution became a common practice. It eliminates the ancillary experiences that make a university a place for people to grow more than just academically.