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Subcategory: College
At Top Schools, More Than Half the Profs Have Industry Ties
Nov 4 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
A survey conducted in 2006-07 and published this week in the journal Health Affairs found that 53% of academic research faculty in the life sciences at top schools reported financial ties to industry.
Socrates in the Boardroom
Nov 3 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
A new book says that research universities are best led by presidents who have had distinguished
careers doing real research.
New Works of Science Nonfiction
Oct 26 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Creating an original organism required no bolt of lightning for a team of University of Virginia students. But it did take buckets of ice, vials of bacteria, and a FedEx delivery.
Debate Today on Engineering Diversity Program at Berkeley
Aug 17 2009 - ScienceInsider
Unhappy students and faculty members at the University of California, Berkeley, are expected to jam a campus town hall meeting this afternoon to hear the dean of the college of engineering explain why he's dismantling a model program for underrepresented minorities and women.
Water, Water Everywhere
Aug 13 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Long the only community college to host a state- and federally-recognized maritime academy, Northwestern Michigan College is about to launch a new associate degree program in freshwater studies, with concentrations in science and technology, global freshwater policy and sustainability, and economy and society.
Texas Colleges' Math-Science Push Falling Short, Board Says
Aug 6 2009 - The Dallas Morning News
Texas colleges and universities aren't coming close to meeting goals to increase graduates from math and science programs and enroll more Hispanic students, according to a recent report. Among the findings, Texas is lagging in the proportion of federal funding for research and development in science and engineering.
Schools of Sustainability, Colleges of the Environment
Jul 23 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
In recent years, a steady stream of universities have established either a college, school, or campus dedicated to the study of sustainability and the environment, and they're experimenting with a range of innovative organizing principles and structures to promote interdisciplinary (or transdisciplinary) teaching and research.
Obama Unveils $12b Community College Aid Package
Jul 15 2009 - The Boston Globe
Conceding that unemployment will get worse before it gets better, President Obama yesterday unveiled a $12 billion plan to help community colleges prepare millions of people for a new generation of jobs.
Students Dig Into Sustainable Farming at Vermont College
Jul 10 2009 - USA Today
College farming is growing. According to the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, more than 80 schools now have hands-on and classroom-based farm programs. At Green Mountain College in Vermont, students learn sustainable agriculture using the least amount of fossil fuels.
Sustainability Advocates Seek 1% of Carbon-Emissions Allowances for Green Education
Jul 9 2009 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Sustainability advocates in higher education are asking college presidents for their support for a plan to set aside 1% of the proceeds from carbon-emissions allowances for education in the fields of clean energy, environmental literacy, and sustainability.
Assessing Accountability
Jul 1 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Most states don't have systems in place to measure college students' learning outcomes, and rare is the state that actually uses accountability data to drive policy decisions, a new report says.
For Colleges, Small Cuts Add Up to Big Savings
Jun 22 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
While colleges and universities slashed their spending this year with wrenching layoffs, hiring freezes, and halts in construction projects, they whittled away at costs with smaller, quirkier economies, too.
Colleges Strive to Ensure Intellectual Diversity
Jun 18 2009 - USA Today
Dozens of public and private colleges have taken steps to ensure their students are exposed to a range of intellectual views on campus, and to ensure that students can freely express their views, says a new report.
The Faculty and Undergrad Research
Jun 4 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Logic might dictate that the key to broadening participation in undergraduate research is to
focus on students. But a panel of experts gathered by the Council on Undergraduate Research kept
circling back to the idea that the real key may be getting faculty on board.
New Report Says 2-Year Degrees Are Keys to Obama's Goal
May 21 2009 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
President Obama told Congress that the U.S. should have the world’s highest proportion of college
graduates by 2020. An author of a new report on how the nation fares in higher education compared
with other developed nations says the U.S. is not far behind considering how other nations
measure degree attainment.
Top Ph.D. Programs, Shrinking
May 13 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Harvard, Chicago and others will enroll smaller classes of doctoral students in the fall. Is recession forcing long-term change on graduate education?
Community Colleges Challenge Hierarchy With 4-Year Degrees
May 4 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Nationwide, 17 states have allowed community colleges to award associate's and bachelor's degrees, and in some, the community colleges have become four-year institutions. Some universities are fighting back, saying the community colleges are involved in "mission creep" that may distract them from their traditional mission and lead to watered-down bachelor's degrees.
Unemployed Seek Training for "Green Collar" Jobs
Apr 14 2009 - The Dallas Morning News
As the economy sheds jobs, community colleges across the country are reporting a surge of unemployed workers enrolling in courses that offer training for "green-collar" jobs. Students are learning how to install solar panels, repair wind turbines, produce biofuels, and do other work related to renewable energy.
Free Community College Tuition Pushed for Laid-Off Workers
Apr 9 2009 - Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Community colleges nationwide would be encouraged to offer tuition-free instruction to laid-off workers under legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, that would reimburse schools up to $1,000 per student, his office said yesterday.
"Tuning" College Degrees
Apr 8 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
In a major new effort to assure rigor and relevance for college degrees at various levels, three states are launching a project aimed at "tuning" academic programs. The three states are Indiana (in education, history, and chemistry), Utah (in history and physics), and Minnesota (in graphic design and chemistry).
The Stimulus as Savior?
Mar 31 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Public college leaders in many states are looking to the recently enacted federal stimulus package as a lifeline. But the evidence so far suggests that higher education may fare well in some states, but could receive relatively little in others.
Supply, Demand, and Foreign Students
Mar 25 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
New analysis finds that "natural economic forces" (as opposed to U.S. failure) go far in explaining the declining share of science and engineering Ph.D.s earned by the American-born.
Community College Surge
Mar 20 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
A survey released Tuesday at a meeting of the League for Innovation in the Community College suggests that the early anecdotal reports of increased enrollment are in fact correct. Further, community colleges are reporting increases in just about every major type of program they offer—with notable increases online.
Grade Inflation Seen Rising
Mar 12 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
A professor who has crusaded against grade inflation by gathering and publicizing data has released his largest analysis to date—and it suggests that grade inflation continues to be a broad problem across much of higher education. The figures may embarrass some colleges and renew a debate over whether students experience enough rigor.
Pasadena-Based Plan for Online University Draws Interest
Feb 26 2009 - Los Angeles Times
An Israeli entrepreneur hopes to start a global, very-low-cost institution soon. But by dispensing with professors, it's already a tough sell for some.
The New Reverse Transfer
Feb 23 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Nationally, the American Association of Community Colleges notes that a third of all two-year students previously attended a four-year institution. The recession has led to surge in community college enrollments this year, and some experts believe these "reverse transfers" are an important and sometimes overlooked portion of that growing student body at two-year institutions.
Students' Exercise Helps Power University
Feb 20 2009 - eSchool News
Thousands of college students regularly hit the cardio exercise machines to work off stress after an exam or stay in shape. Oregon State University is harnessing the energy the machines can generate and converting it to electricity to feed back into the power grid.
Many Who Get Early Admission to College Regret Choice
Feb 17 2009 - USA Today
New research offers yet another argument for why high school students should avoid the college early-admissions frenzy: They may be more likely to regret their decision later in life.
Texan Becomes First Hispanic in US to Lead University System
Feb 3 2009 - The Boston Globe
A Mexican-American pediatric surgeon will become the nation's first Hispanic to preside over a major university system when Dr. Francisco Cigarroa takes the helm at the University of Texas system, which faces financial woes and complaints about diversity.
Signing Up for an Online Degree? Know the Costs
Jan 29 2009 - The Boston Globe
One way to get an edge in this job market is to earn an advanced degree. Just don't assume doing it online will be easy. Online masters programs are often cheaper and more convenient than traditional ones, but they also present challenges.
Rejecting the Academic Fast Track
Jan 15 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Research universities may not be able to attract the best young faculty talent, according to a survey that finds that they increasingly care about finding careers at "family friendly" campuses.
States Fall Short in Measuring College Performance, Report Says
Dec 17 2008 - Chronicle of Higher Education
The push to gather data about colleges’ performance and student outcomes must come from the states, which provide more than $100-billion annually for higher education and enroll nearly three-quarters of all undergraduates at public two- and four-year institutions, recommends a new report from Education Sector.
Who Needs a 5-Day Schedule?
Dec 15 2008 - Inside Higher Ed
When the price of gasoline peaked at more than $4 in July, a number of colleges and universities were already experimenting with four-day—or shorter—workweeks to ease the load on their students' pocketbooks. Even with gas prices down, some colleges are finding the programs—first used by many campuses in the summer only—are worth keeping for the rest of the year. But so far, students aren't flocking to a more crammed option that allows them to take a semester's worth of courses on only one day a week.
U. of Fla. President Pledges Bonus to Scholarships
Dec 9 2008 - The Boston Globe
Minutes after receiving a $285,000 salary bonus, the University of Florida president announced that he will donate the money to the university. At a Monday meeting of the university's board of trustees, President Bernie Machen said he wants the money to go to the Opportunity Scholars program.
Tenure on the Chopping Block
Dec 5 2008 - Inside Higher Ed
Amid state budget concerns, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System may eliminate tenure for all new faculty members and instead offer short-term renewable contracts. System leaders say the plan will give them a flexibility they need, but many professors fear a potential loss of academic freedom and job security.
Analysis: Community Colleges Suddenly in Spotlight
Nov 20 2008 - The Boston Globe
Long the neglected stepchildren of American higher education, community colleges have come front-and-center in the eyes of students, policymakers, and philanthropists. For students, that's because of the economy, which is boosting interest in two-year schools as a cheaper starting point for a bachelor's degree. They're also the place for job retraining.
Nine Volunteers in Harvard Study Agree to Post Their Personal Genomes Online
Oct 21 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Nine of the first 10 participants in a genetic study at Harvard Medical School, who include some well-known researchers, have agreed to post newly decoded segments of their DNA sequences and other medical information on a publicly accessible website, the group announced.
Education Gains Stall for Latest Generation
Oct 15 2008 - The Boston Globe
Since World War II, if not before, it has been assumed that children were more likely to graduate from college than their parents. Now, those generational gains appear to have stalled. About 35% of adults age 25 to 29 in 2006 had earned a college degree—essentially the same number of adults 30 and older, the American Council on Education has found in a new report. Among Hispanics and American Indians, younger adults are less likely to have a two- or four-year college degree than previous generations.
Hearings on Higher Education Act Regulations to Be Held at Five Colleges
Sep 8 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Bush-administration officials spent five years working with Congress to renew the Higher Education Act, the major law setting federal policy toward colleges. They now plan to spend a few more months traveling the country to draft the regulatory language that will carry out the law.
Firebomb Attacks Anger, Worry UC Scientists Who Use Animals in Research
Aug 14 2008 - Los Angeles Times
Two recent firebomb attacks on UC Santa Cruz scientists who conduct animal research have angered and worried academics throughout the UC system, who said their work has broad public support and that they will not be intimidated by bombers who crossed the line by targeting families.
Maharishi University Plans Ultimate Green Building
Aug 6 2008 - The Boston Globe
Solar panels and wind generators will produce the heat and electricity, rainwater will be purified for drinking, and sunshine will light most of the building. In Fairfield, Iowa, the Maharishi University of Management's new sustainable living program building will be greener than any structure of its kind.
Earthquake Lecture on Riverside Campus Is Interrupted by the Real Thing
Jul 31 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Science educators are constantly searching for ways to make their lessons more relevant to students, so a professor at the University of California at Riverside must have felt particularly fortunate on Tuesday when his lecture on earthquake waves was disrupted by a 5.4-magnitude temblor.
CSU Program to Turn All Majors "Green"
Jul 25 2008 - The Denver Post
Colorado State University has launched a School of Global Environmental Sustainability that will eventually touch all academic disciplines and push even English majors to learn about technology that could clean up the Earth. The university will spend $350,000 in the first year to develop the new school, which will eventually have its own majors and offer certificates in environmental sustainability.
"Turning Point" Arrives as U.S. Community Colleges' Purview Grows
Jul 25 2008 - USA Today
Community college leaders insist that their institutions, created to serve their local communities, have grown even more important on a larger stage.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Jul 22 2008 - Inside Higher Ed
Institutional researchers, champions of data-driven assessment, seek to balance interests of policy makers who often want facile, external measures--and faculty who sometimes want none.
Gas Prices Boost Online Learning
Jul 11 2008 - The Boston Globe
Online enrollment has been steadily growing for years, but college administrators say the spike in gas prices--to more than $4 a gallon in most places--has fueled a surge in students seeking classes without the cost of commuting.
Program Illuminates College for Foster Kids
Jul 9 2008 - Billings Gazette
Montana's "A Step Ahead" college preparation camp gives foster kids a glimpse of college life by allowing them to stay in the dorms, tour the campus and upgrade their computer skills.
Higher Learning Adapts To a Greening Attitude
Jun 23 2008 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
The environmental fervor sweeping college campuses has reached beyond the push to recycle plastics and offer organic food and is transforming the curriculum, permeating classrooms, academic majors, and expensive new research institutes.
AAUP Weighs In on Hot-Button Academic Issues
Jun 17 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
At its annual meeting, the American Association of University Professors passed four resolutions recently that deal with hot-button issues in academic labor, campus safety, the curriculum, and international relations.
Forbes Reveals "America's Greenest Colleges"
May 9 2008 - eSchool News
Long a hotbed of environmental activism, America's campuses are blooming green, Forbes reports. Schools are committing to reducing their carbon dioxide emissions, they're funneling endowment money into renewable-energy investment funds, and students--the engine behind much of this growth--are pushing for more.
University Nixes Web Access During Class
May 5 2008 - eSchool News
University of Chicago Law School officials have a simple message for their students: less web surfing, more listening. The school announced that the distractions afforded by wireless internet access no longer will be available during class time, although laptops still will be permitted for note taking. Although many professors have taken steps to block internet access during their instruction, the University of Chicago Law School is believed to be among the first to implement a school-wide ban.
U.S. Colleges Push the Education Envelope
Apr 24 2008 - Science NOW Daily News
In addition to being the spice of life, variety is important for a good undergraduate science education. That's the philosophy behind $60 million in grants announced today from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The money, slated for 48 liberal arts colleges in 21 states and Puerto Rico, is meant to improve how students learn science and to prepare them for scientific careers.
Picture This: Explaining Science through Drawings
Apr 15 2008 - National Science Foundation
Undergraduate students master scientific concepts by explaining them to high schoolers through drawings.
On Campus Soon: More Empty Seats
Mar 18 2008 - U.S. News & World Report
Colleges are enjoying the deluge of applications from the biggest class of high school seniors in history this year. Next year, however, the tide could begin to turn as a baby bust that started in 1991 is expected to reduce the number of 18-year-olds by almost 10% by 2016, according to the Census Bureau.
Free College Courses Feed Global Hunger for Learning
Feb 27 2008 - USA Today
In 2002, when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology started making course content available free online, project organizers had no idea their site would become a favorite destination for science junkies across the globe. They posted lecture outlines and other materials primarily as a resource for fellow educators. But a whopping 55% of the 750,000 monthly visitors come from the ranks of "independent learners" who simply want the knowledge that once required a student ID.
And the Oscar Goes to... a Professor?
Feb 27 2008 - NSF.gov
Daniel Day-Lewis wasn't the only one honored at the Academy Awards. Ron Fedkiw, an associate professor of computer science at Stanford University also received a coveted gold statuette this year for his groundbreaking work in liquid simulations. While people don't usually associate computational scientists with movie stars, Fedkiw's honor shows the impact of computer science on Hollywood and the rest of our lives.
Providing an Edge in College Admissions
Dec 27 2007 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Teachers nationwide are working this holiday season. Educators are spending part of their winter break writing college recommendation letters for students. Experts explain a strong teacher recommendation can add “flesh, bones, and personality” to an application package of test scores and grades, and convince a college admissions director that a particular student would be a valuable asset on campus.
Decline of the Tenure Track Raises Concerns
Nov 20 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Officials in higher education are concerned over the decline of professors with tenure or who are on the tenure track, as the number of part-time instructors and teachers hired on a contract basis have increased. The shift has resulted from financial pressures, a desire by administrators for more flexibility in hiring, firing, and changing course offerings, and the growth of community colleges and regional public universities focused on teaching basics and preparing students for jobs. Some schools and organizations, however, are working on various efforts to increase the number of tenured or tenure-track teachers.
Colleges Pledge Support for Low-Income Students
Nov 1 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Nineteen state university systems have pledged to increase diversity and enhance student learning under a new program. The aim behind the Access to Success Initiative is to improve college attendance and graduation rates for low-income and minority students, and close the gaps between them and other students by 2015. Participating schools will also look at how to bring college costs under control and examine ways to redirect financial aid toward those who need it most. And because many universities can’t reform education alone, many schools plan to form deeper connections with K–12 systems.
Community Colleges Changing Course as Students, Needs Shift
Oct 29 2007 - Seattle Times (Washington)
Community colleges nationwide are attempting to adapt to an increasing demand from young students and, in some cases, are beginning to resemble university campuses. Many community colleges are trying to provide a broader approach to learning, even in specialty trades. The efforts stem from a need for today’s workers to be more flexible, and the fact that they will likely change jobs and responsibilities more often.
College Costs Outpace Inflation Rate
Oct 23 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
New reports released by the College Board reveal that tuition and fees at public and private universities have increased at more than double the rate of inflation. Tuition and other costs increased by $6,185 at public four-year colleges, while tuition at private schools rose to $23,712. Two-year public institutions experienced a tuition and fee increase of 4.2% to $2,361. The College Board’s study drew on responses from 2,976 institutions to questionnaires sent out in October 2006, as well as government agencies and organizations.
Exploring Ways to Shorten the Ascent to a Ph.D.
Oct 3 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Universities nationwide are exploring ways to reduce the time it takes for students to earn a doctorate degree. The average student takes 8.2 years to earn a doctorate degree. Schools are establishing stricter timelines and asking faculty advisers to meet regularly with students to help shorten the process. The Council of Graduate Schools is half-way through a seven-year project on exploring ways to reduce the time involved.
Efforts to Create a Standard Early-Admissions Policy Run into Trouble
Sep 26 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Whether it is a small community college or an Ivy League school, colleges nationwide are debating the timing of the admissions process. In 2006, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, voted to forbid colleges to make admission offers before September 15 of a student’s senior year. The policy was an effort to keep college admissions anxiety from going to younger students and is set to take effect in 2008. However, the group is now considering backtracking on the policy before it is even given a try. The move stems from state universities and community colleges that say while the policy may help, it makes no sense for them.
Women Feed the Jump in College Enrollment
Sep 12 2007 - USA Today
A new survey shows young women are the ones who are fueling the increase in enrollment in colleges and universities nationwide. Women comprised 56% of undergraduates in 2006, an increase from 54.8% in 2000. The numbers confirm years of enrollment data showing that women have not only closed the college enrollment gap, but they have far surpassed the number of men on campuses.
U.S. Woos Top Latin American Students
Aug 24 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is encouraging Chilean students to pursue their higher education in the United States under a new program. The scholarship program aims to attract potential doctorate students who want to study subjects deemed important to Chile’s future, such as science and technology, environmental studies, education, public policy, and public health. The program would require participants to return to Chile and work for at least two years after earning their degrees.
Hispanic College Trend: Staying Close to Home
Aug 17 2007 - Miami Herald (Florida)
A new study reveals that Hispanic students prefer to attend colleges that are close to home and will not require debt. “The conventional wisdom on college choice is not conventional for these students,” observed Deborah Santiago, vice president of Excelencia in Education, an organization focused on Hispanic education. The study’s authors examined federal data from the 2003–2004 school years and interviewed more than 100 Hispanic students to make their findings.
U.S. News's College Rankings Face Competition and Criticism
Aug 17 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of colleges and universities is attracting competition and criticism. Critics, some of whom produce their own college guides, have questioned the magazine’s methodology. The magazine’s editor explained that the publication “presents the only college rankings based on a scientific formula, which is proprietary, and that the magazine should not be blamed if colleges make too much of the rankings and students misuse them.”
Programs Help with Diversity Goal
Jul 20 2007 - The Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Colleges in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kentucky are targeting top students and students who can add diversity to their campuses by offering intensive summer experiences. In recent years, colleges have launched week-long summer academies and camps. Often they target minority or poor students. Other schools target students who are not disadvantaged, but who will someday major in science, math, or technology.
Colleges Revoke Admission Offers to Lazy Seniors
Jun 22 2007 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Elite universities in California and across the country are revoking admission offers to students whose grades originally were good enough to gain acceptance, but whose final exams and transcripts fell to a grade of D or below. “It can be quite traumatic,” observed Susan Wilbur, director of undergraduate admissions for the University of California system. Universities say they are open to appeals about special circumstances, such as an illness or a divorce that affected grades. They may forgive an otherwise stellar student who stumbles in one ambitious course.
Colleges Forego Magazine's Ranking Process
Jun 20 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Presidents of several liberal arts colleges have decided to stop participating in an annual college rankings list conducted by a popular news magazine. U.S. News and World Report says it provides a valuable service to parents and students in its yearly evaluations, which are based on factors that include graduation and retention rates, assessments by competitors, selectivity, and faculty resources. Critics claim the ranking system lacks rigor and has had a harmful effect on educational priorities.
High Education Costs Hurting Public Trust
May 31 2007 - Desert News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Americans support efforts many colleges and universities make to turn out an educated work force, but a recent survey shows those same people believe increasing costs are making higher education less accessible. Earning a degree is more important than ever, according to the survey, released on May 31 by the Public Agenda and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
Elite Colleges Open New Door to Low-Income Youths
May 27 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A growing number of elite colleges are opening their doors to talented low-income students. The effort stems from concerns that the barriers to elite institutions are being increasingly drawn along class lines, and the desire to maintain some role as engines of social mobility. As a result, about two dozens schools, including Amherst, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, the University of Virginia, Williams, and the University of North Carolina, have pushed in the past few years to diversify economically. The schools are trying tactics like replacing loans with grants, and curtailing early admission, which favors the well-to-do and savvy.
Universities See Green at Forum
May 8 2007 - Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
On the last day of Washington University’s symposium on energy and the environment, leaders from universities around the globe declared their intentions to push for advanced study in these fields. For instance, the president of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, said he would speed the process of making its department of environmental science a full-fledged school. Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St. Louis said he plans to name a sustainability officer, put more resources toward bioenergy and clean combustion research, and make the environment a curriculum focus. The head of the National Taiwan University said he would quicken the pace to start an energy research institute.
Schools Try Radical Ways to Help Students Pay for College
Apr 30 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Amid the climate of skyrocketing college tuitions and convoluted aid programs, a handful of universities are introducing simple and transparent financial aid programs. Among them: across the board tuition cuts, loan caps, and completely eliminating tuition for some.
Exams Cost Too Much, Say Colleges
Apr 19 2007 - BBC News
Colleges are spending more on entering students for exams than they are on heating, cleaning, or computers, officials say. The Association of Colleges says the cost of entering students for exams has increased by 36% in the past three years. Government officials have ordered a review of exam fees and noted the results would be published later this year.
U.S. Universities Still a Top Draw for International Students
Apr 19 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
The tragedy that unfolded on April 16 at Virginia Tech has not deterred foreign students from wanting to study in the United States. Today’s internationally mobile students “go wherever they need to go to do what they need to do,” says Rolf Hoffmann, head of the Fulbright Commission in Berlin, which advises students on study in the United States. “They are not guided by emotion.”
Foreign Student Applications on Rise in U.S.
Apr 17 2007 - Financial Times (United Kingdom)
The number of foreign students applying to U.S. graduate schools increased for the second year in a row, according to a new survey. The survey, conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools, said this year’s eight percent increase in foreign applications was an indication that the U.S. government’s attempts at making the student visa process more user-friendly appeared to be working.
Applicants Flood Top Colleges
Apr 16 2007 - The Oregonian
A record 3.2 million high school graduates, more than at the peak of the baby boom generation, flooded the nation’s elite colleges with applications this year, creating more competition than ever for limited spots in freshmen classes across the country. For many high-achieving students, the wave of college rejections this month came as an unexpected blow.
College Presidents Plan Rankings Boycott
Apr 12 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
A revolt is brewing among college presidents against the influential college rankings produced each year by a weekly news magazine. Dozens of schools have recently refused to fill out the magazine’s surveys, which are used to calculate ranks, and efforts are now beginning for a collective boycott. At the heart of the matter: A college degree is increasingly expensive, and students and parents want to make informed decisions. But educators worry the rankings have made college a commodity, creating a false impression that schools can be easily compared and stressing out students who want only the “best” schools.
Survey: Faculty Salaries Rising
Apr 12 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Salaries of full-time college faculty rose 3.8% in 2007, the biggest increase in five years. Academic salaries vary significantly, depending on rank and institution, but the overall increases narrowly beat inflation and were the highest since 2002, according to an annual survey released April 12 by the American Association of University Professors.
Race, Wealth Affect Significance Given to College Rankings
Apr 11 2007 - USA Today
How important are college rankings to students? A new report says that “despite all the hype, only 16.4% of incoming students in 2006 reported that rankings were very important in their decision to attend their particular college.” In contrast, 57.4% indicated that a school’s academic reputation was very important.
Battle to Win Top Colleges' Nod Escalating
Apr 6 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
The U.S. Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics says the number of graduating high school seniors will peak at 3.3 million in 2011 and decline only slightly to 3.2 million by 2016. Most educators predict that the percentage of those students going to college—about 67%--will increase and make the college application process even more stressful. Undergraduate enrollment, for instance, is projected conservatively to increase from 15.2 million this year to 16.6 million in 2015, the center says.
Many Teachers See Failure in Students' Future
Mar 27 2007 - USA Today
In a wide-ranging survey being released March 27, nearly one in four teachers in urban schools paint a sobering picture of students there. Educators say most children “would not be successful at a community college or university.” Even more say students “are not motivated to learn.”
India Attracts Universities From the U.S.
Mar 26 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
American universities, eager to expand to markets abroad, are setting their sights on India. Approximately 40% of the population is under 18 in India and a scarcity of higher education opportunities in the country is frequently cited as a potential hurdle to economic progress.
Opinion: The Power of U.S. Universities
Mar 13 2007 - Indianapolis Star (Indiana)
When people think about American power in the world, they usually list the country’s forbidding arsenal of bombers, aircraft carriers, and troops. Yet America’s greatest strategic asset these days might not be its guns, but its universities, writes the author of this editorial.
In Diversity Push, Top Universities Enrolling More Black Immigrants
Mar 6 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
The nation’s most elite colleges and universities are bolstering their black student populations by enrolling large numbers of immigrants from Africa, the West Indies, and Latin America, according to a recent study published in American Journal of Education.
Colleges Steer Students Toward Majors
Feb 23 2007 - Des Moines Register (Iowa)
Students who take too long to figure out their career path in college could find themselves in an academic and financial jam. That’s the message being delivered to students at schools in Iowa and nationwide as officials help them choose a major area of study.
American Education Thriving in Qatar
Feb 22 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Taking globalization of higher education to new heights, five American universities have opened satellite campuses in Qatar in the past few years. These universities have employed some of the same professors as their stateside campuses, demanded the same tuition, and theoretically, provided the same education.
Donations to Colleges Up Sharply Last Year
Feb 22 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Prosperous alumni helped make 2006 a record fundraising year for colleges and universities, according to a new survey. Stanford University ranked first on the list with $911 million followed by Harvard University at $595 million. Alumni donations account for about 30% of giving to higher education. Ann Kaplan, the survey’s director, noted that the strong economy played a role, but universities also were asking more aggressively for money as part of formal fundraising campaigns.
University Status Eyed for Colleges
Feb 20 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Some state colleges in Massachusetts are pursuing a name change, hoping to attract top students, big donors, and more prestige. The state’s colleges say changing their title is part of their evolution. If the state’s schools were to make the switch, Massachusetts would join the approximately 45 states that have allowed their state colleges to become state universities, according to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Academic Skills Meet the World
Feb 15 2007 - USA Today
Read about the 20 students named to the 2007 All-USA College Academic First Team, USA Today’s recognition program for outstanding undergraduates. This year’s winners will receive trophies and $2,500 cash awards as representatives of all outstanding undergraduates.
Report: 'Major Turnover' of College Presidents on Way
Feb 12 2007 - USA Today
College presidents are growing older and have been in their positions longer than at any other time in the past 20 years, indicating an upcoming wave of turnover at the top, according to a new study. “The data…suggests that we will likely see a major turnover in the leadership of American colleges and universities in the next five to 10 years,” explains James Renick, senior vice president of the American Council on Education. The organization surveyed the nation’s 3,396 presidents in 2006 for the study.
In a Historic First, Harvard Chooses Woman President
Feb 12 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Despite the 50–50 leadership split at Ivy league schools, women run only 20% of U.S. colleges and universities. Harvard University’s decision to appoint Drew Gilpin Faust as the school’s first female president could have a lasting impact on the gender imbalance among faculty at Harvard, and in the leadership ranks across academia, experts say.
27% of Top College Blacks Came From Immigrant Families
Feb 1 2007 - Chicago Sun-Times
Black students with U.S. ancestry appear to be less represented in college than race-based statistics indicate, as immigrants make up a disproportionate share of admissions, according to a Princeton University analysis.
Many Graduates 'Lack Soft Skills'
Jan 30 2007 - BBC News
A new survey finds that four out of 10 large employers expect to struggle to fill graduate vacancies because of a shortage of applicants with the right skills. Such skills include teamwork, communication, and verbal and numerical reasoning.
Finding New Ways to Connect
Jan 29 2007 - San Diego Union-Tribune (California)
College professors find it challenging to teach the millennial generation, students who were born in the 1980s and early 1990s. It's a challenge, they say, because they have to adjust their teaching styles to meet students' high expectations for multimedia components. But the teachers note it's rewarding to connect with more of them through technology. Academics say it's too early to know whether students are learning more through the varied formats of video, podcasts, and the Internet, but say students are communicating more with professors, mainly online, in and out of class.
Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences
Jan 26 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
With Michigan’s new ban on affirmative action going into effect, and similar ballot initiatives looming in other states, many public universities are scrambling to find race-blind ways to attract more blacks and Hispanics.
Community Colleges Aim for More Respect
Jan 17 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
With their low tuitions and convenient locations, community colleges serve nearly half the country's undergraduates – everyone from second-career starters to new immigrants to fast-track high schoolers. But by some counts, fewer than half of community college students meet their educational goals, and that has a ripple effect in efforts to educate the local workforces and make the United States more competitive. Community colleges are becoming more aware of their shortcomings, experts say, in areas such as student advising, teaching methods, and the process of transferring academic credits. To address the latter, two–year and four–year institutions are collaborating on academic standards to ensure that key courses are transferable and are graded in a similar way.
A Symbol of Class Clowning Gives High Schoolers a Lift
Jan 17 2007 - USA Today
It’s not everyday that adults encourages teens to “be a pain in the behind,” but a poster in a national multimedia public service campaign advises students who want to go to college to do exactly that. The two-year campaign, titled KnowHow2GO, will target students in grades eight to 10 who are least likely to know the college preparation process: low income students and those who would be the first generation in their families to go to college.
Panel Urges Collegians to Focus on Liberal Arts
Jan 12 2007 - USA Today
A panel of national higher education and business leaders has issued a roadmap for reforming higher education, arguing that college graduates must be able to do more than equip themselves for their first job. Rather, it says in a report, "In an economy fueled by innovation, the capabilities developed through a liberal education have become America's most valuable economic asset."
Generation M's Surprising Struggle With Tech Literacy
Dec 28 2006 - Commerce Times
The California State University system is considering adding a mandatory assessment test for technological literacy to its incoming freshman. Although Generation M students (those born after 1985) have grown up with technology, on a recent nationwide test to measure their technological literacy, only 49% of the test-takers correctly evaluated a set of websites for objectivity, authority, and timeliness. Only 35% could correctly narrow an overly broad internet search.
States Give Failing Grade to Graduation Rates
Nov 28 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
For decades, college gates have opened wider and wider to the American public, with more whites and minorities attending than ever before. But that expansion is under strain in the face of rising costs and faster growth of minority populations long left behind in the march to graduation. A new report from the National Conference of State Legislatures sounds the alarm: For every 100 ninth graders, only 18% will enter college and finish within six years.
Community College is Less Engaging for Part-Timers
Nov 27 2006 - USA Today
There is a "significant difference" in the experiences of part–time and full–time students at community colleges, a new report finds. And a key reason, it suggests, is that part–time students, who represent about two-thirds of those at all community colleges, are more likely to be taught by part–time faculty.
More Colleges Helping With Disabilities
Nov 26 2006 - Denver Post (Colorado)
More colleges and universities nationwide are helping students with disabilities. The schools are providing services to help these students keep pace. The services range from personal note-takers to high-tech computer equipment that reads aloud and types research papers.
Should Government Take a Yardstick to Colleges?
Nov 14 2006 - USA Today
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings wants colleges and universities to provide more information about their costs and to track records of success in educating students to help families shopping around for schools. Although her higher education commission has developed several recommendations toward that end, including creating a database that follows individual students, many higher education leaders view the federal government's proposals as intrusive, especially since, they say, many schools already voluntarily measure their effectiveness.
Black Colleges Extend Hand to Hispanics
Nov 8 2006 - USA Today
Some historically black colleges and universities are recruiting Hispanics, as a way to boost their enrollments, diversify their student bodies, and educate a fast–growing segment of the population.
Minority Enrollment in College Still Lagging
Oct 30 2006 - USA Today
Despite significant gains in minority undergraduate and graduate enrollments at the nation's colleges and universities, the rate at which black and Hispanic students attend college continues to trail that of white students, according to a new report.
College Degree Worth Extra $23,000/Year
Oct 26 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
How much is a bachelor’s degree worth? About $23,000 a year, according to a new report issued by the federal government. The $23,000 figure represents the average gap in earnings between adults with bachelor’s degrees and those with high school diplomas. The study also found that Connecticut had the highest proportion of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree (37%) followed by Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey. West Virginia had the lowest proportion of college graduates.
Flag is Raised on Admissions
Oct 25 2006 - USA Today
Shortly after Harvard University announced in September that it was ending its early–admissions policy, admissions dean William Fitzsimmons received a thank you e–mail from a woman with a story to tell. She and her best friend had applied to the same school. The friend got in, she didn’t. And that was the end of the friendship. Now as Fitzsimmons prepares to conduct Harvard’s last review of early–admission applicants, he worries that the admissions “rat race” is destroying “the quality of the social fabric” in high schools.
College Entrance Exam Challenged by SAT
Oct 25 2006 - China News
In recent months, many foreign colleges have expressed an interest in wanting to enroll more students from China. To aid in that effort, some 450 schools from nearly 30 countries participated in the 2006 China International Education Exhibition last week.
Midwest Schools a Hotbed for Research
Oct 24 2006 - Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University has found that nearly one in five of the world’s leading universities is based in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. The Great Lakes region generates 32% of the patents in the United States, when measured in terms of new patents per 100,000 jobs. Thirty–seven percent of the nation’s advanced degrees in science and engineering, the disciplines deemed essential to keeping the United States competitive, emanate from schools in the area, according to a report by the university. However, the region lags in other dimensions essential for those research institutions to act as economic pistons.
Spellings Backs Ideas to Simplify College Choices
Sep 27 2006 - CNN.com
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings launched plans on Sept. 26 to redefine the college experience, promising less confusion and more results for families. Spellings said she would make a handful of changes on her own and start building support for some of the more sweeping ideas that came from her higher education commission. Chief among them is the creation of a massive information–sharing system, opening up greater review of how colleges and universities are performing. Spellings also pledged to make it easier for people to apply for financial aid and to compare the price and the value of one school to another.
States Tout 'One-Stop' College Sites
Sep 27 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Georgia, North Carolina, and about 33 other states have created websites designed to make it easier for parents and students to navigate the complex world of college admissions and financial aid. Some sites now allow students to electronically apply for state–sponsored scholarships, submit their application packages, and enroll at local institutions.
Colleges Look at Ways to Standardize Applicants' GPAs
Sep 26 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Grades have long been contentious in education because they are so subjective, and grading scales can vary widely among K–12 school systems, often within schools, making it increasingly difficult to accurately compare grades. The inconsistency bedevils college and university admissions directors, so much that many are focused on efforts to make grading less subjective in school systems across the country. They also are working to find better ways to level the field when considering GPAs.
Princeton Stops Its Early Admissions, Joining Movement to Make Process Fairer
Sep 19 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A week after Harvard University abandoned early admissions as a program that puts low–income students at a disadvantage, Princeton University has followed suit, saying it hoped other universities would do the same. “I think it’s important for there to be momentum, because I think it’s the right decision,” said Shirley M. Tilghman, Princeton’s president.
Debate Grows as Colleges Slip in Graduations
Sep 15 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Approximately 50 colleges across the country have a six–year graduation rate below 20%, according to the Education Trust, a nonprofit research group. Many low–income and minority students are served by the institutions. Such numbers have prompted a fierce debate in Chicago, where the finding was made, and in the nation’s education circles about who is to blame for the results, whether they are acceptable for nontraditional students, and how universities should be held accountable if the vast majority of students do not graduate.
Higher Ed is Next Challenge After No Child, Secretary Says
Sep 15 2006 - Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Federal officials plan to take the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to the next frontier. Higher education will become the new focus of NCLB. “We need to be more strategic, smarter, and make sure higher education is more accessible to more people if we are going to continue to be the world’s innovator and the world’s leader,” said Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Spellings will give a presentation on the topic of higher education later this month.
The Children Left Behind
Sep 14 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
Much has been said and written in recent years about how rising college tuitions and insufficient need–based financial aid are combining to diminish access to higher education for students from low and moderate–income backgrounds. Now an independent federal panel has tried to quantify exactly how many students have failed to get a bachelor’s degree because of those factors, and the numbers are striking.
Harvard Ends Early Admission, Citing Barrier to Disadvantaged
Sep 12 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Harvard University says it will eliminate its early admissions program next year. University officials say such programs can put low–income and minority applicants at a distinct disadvantage in the competition to get into selective universities. Many admissions deans and high school guidance counselors have expressed astonishment and delight over Harvard’s decision. Several educators say only a university with Harvard’s reputation could take the risk involved with eliminating early admission because it will continue to be the first choice for so many top students.
U.S. Education Chief Backs Panel's Call for College Reforms
Sep 11 2006 - Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has endorsed a special panel’s recommendations for college reforms. The Commission on the Future of Higher Education has proposed increasing financial aid for college students, measuring student learning with standardized tests, and having schools disclose data on graduation rates, spending, and other matters. Spellings will discuss a plan for acting on the recommendations later this month.
Report Finds U.S. Students Lagging in Finishing College
Sep 7 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
The United States has fallen behind other nations in its college enrollment and completion rates, as the affordability of American colleges and universities has declined, according to a new report. The study, from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, found that although the United States still leads the world in the proportion of 35 to 64–year–olds with college degrees, it ranks seventh among developed nations for 25 to 34–year–olds. On rates of completion, the United States is in the lower half of developed nations.
Princeton Number 1 in College Rankings
Aug 18 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Princeton takes the top spot in this year’s college rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Harvard ranked second and Yale is number three on the list. The California Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University all tied for fourth place. Williams College was named the top liberal arts college by the magazine. The formula for the rankings includes variables such as graduation and retention rates, faculty and financial resources, and the percentage of alumni donating money to their alma mater.
For Freshmen Headed Out of State, New York is Top Choice
Jul 14 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A dazzling lifestyle and a decline in crime have made New York state a popular destination for freshmen going to college. In 1992, New York was about even with Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in attracting freshmen students. However, in 2004, New York ranked first ahead of Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Massachusetts, according to the most recent federal data.
A More Nuanced Look at Men, Women and College
Jul 12 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A new study by the American Council on Education reexamines data about college attendance for men and women previously reported on by the organization. The latest report finds that young males of all races are slightly more likely than women to attend college. The report also found that among traditional-age undergraduates, low-income white and Hispanic men are losing ground to women. Middle-income Hispanics and low-income black men, however, made progress in closing the gender gap. The report also looked at the gender gap in different types of institutions and in graduate education.
At Colleges, Women are Leaving Men in the Dust
Jul 9 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A quarter century after women became the majority on college campuses, men are trailing them in more than just enrollment. Statistics from the Department of Education show that males, whatever their race or socioeconomic group, are less likely than females to earn bachelor’s degrees. College men also report that they study less and socialize more than their female classmates, according to two national studies. Observers note that males are not in a downward spiral. It’s just that women are performing at a higher level and beating men to the academic finish line.
Panel's Draft Report Calls for an Overhaul of Higher Education Nationwide
Jun 27 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A draft report by a national commission says nearly every aspect of the country’s higher education system is in need of change. The report calls for an overhaul of the student financial aid system, improved cost controls by colleges and universities, and more evidence of results, including testing. The commission was formed last year to study how to increase access, affordability and accountability in higher education. The report’s recommendations could prove important for the country’s 17 million college students and their parents.
Katrina-hit Schools Seek Students
Jun 18 2006 - Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
College administrators in New Orleans continue to recruit students to join their schools this fall. June is normally not a big college recruiting month, but the schools are seeking students in an effort to stay alive after being hammered by hurricanes last year. The schools also have plenty of financial aid to award. School officials worry that students and their parents are not considering New Orleans as a potential location for college because they might think campuses are unsafe or that another hurricane could threaten the area.
Students Go the Extra Mile for College Acceptance
Jun 5 2006 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Whether its going to a science camp, visiting faraway places, or doing an internship, students nationwide are pursuing various activities to give them an edge in the college admissions process. Attending some programs can cost thousands of dollars, and many parents view them as worthwhile investments. Some admission experts, however, say elite colleges and universities do not give much weight to expensive programs and activities, and a job mowing lawns can look just as good on an application.
Accepted Into Education City
Jun 1 2006 - DiverseEducation.com
Several American universities are opening campuses in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. Students from across the Arab world are enrolling in the schools where they can earn an American-style education and degrees without having to come to the United States. The effort represents the next step in the globalization of American higher education—international franchising—and could bring educational and financial benefits to universities. But observers note no one is precisely sure how this experiment will turn out.
Can't Complete High School? Go Right to College
May 30 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A growing number of colleges nationwide are accepting students who have not graduated from high school. Nearly 400,000 students without high school diplomas are enrolled in colleges, according to a survey by the U.S. Education Department conducted in 2003–2004. Observers note that the growth is fueling a debate over whether the students should be in college at all and if state financial aid programs should help pay their way.
More Women Graduate--Why?
May 30 2006 - USA Today
More women than men are graduating from college. This gender imbalance has left some observers wondering why. Although university officials tend to point to inadequate preparation in high school, the problems begin far earlier. Experts note that poor motivation and lackluster academic backgrounds follow many boys into college where they find an unsupervised living environment. Many educators, especially feminists, say academic gender gaps don’t matter because men end up running things anyway.
Facing Down the 'Snob Factor'
May 5 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
Two leading universities have announced initiatives that will guarantee admission to more community college students who meet certain guidelines. A foundation is spending millions on a program that will aim to help several elite colleges and universities recruit and retain the nation’s best low-income two-year graduates. But while these types of programs are what many people have been waiting for, some students and faculty are dubious. And what experts see as “old fashioned snobbery” has become an obstacle.
Grads Gain the Advantage
May 1 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
It’s a buyers market for many college graduates looking for their first jobs this spring. Job market analysts and career counselors are seeing a hiring growth in many sectors of the economy. Experts note that students with backgrounds in engineering and financial services are especially in demand this year. Employers nationwide plan to hire 13.8% more new graduates compared to last year, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Women are Besting Men in College, But Not Salary
Apr 28 2006 - Miami Herald (Requires free registration)
As college graduation season begins this weekend, look for women at the front of the processions. Following a national trend, women are making up an ever-growing majority of the graduating classes at colleges and universities in south Florida. Educators, experts, and female achievers offer several possible reasons for women’s success in the classroom, noting they are more conscientious, have something to prove, and can play the classroom game better. But observers note that despite their academic success, women still lag in pay following graduation.
New Take on the Gender Gap
Apr 26 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
Colleges nationwide are increasingly worried about the way their applicant pools and student bodies are primarily female. Recent discussions have suggested that the problem is relatively recent. But a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests the enrollment patterns colleges are experiencing today result from longer-term shifts.
At Decision Time, Colleges Lay on Charm
Apr 26 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
For a few weeks in April, the ordinary dynamics of college admissions are stood on their head. High school seniors who spent a year or more trying to attract the attention of college admission officers, and who by early April have been offered admission to a handful of prestigious institutions, suddenly find themselves being recruited aggressively. Admissions deans say the competition has become more intense because many of the most competitive students are applying to more universities than ever before and thus are admitted to more schools.
More Master's Courses Designed To Expedite Students Into Jobs
Apr 18 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
A new trend is emerging when it comes to obtaining a master’s degree. Many schools are connecting their master’s programs to various jobs. For example, the new professional science master’s program was developed by educators in concert with various industries. The program is designed to give targeted education to students working in such fields as insurance, banking, consulting, technology transfer, and research management. The program also provides practical experience in the workplace. But now that jobs are the focus, graduate business schools are worried about declines in enrollment.
Competition Worries Graduate Programs
Apr 18 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
The Council of Graduate Schools is concerned about the future of graduate education in the United States. Although enrollment in graduate schools has been growing at an annual rate of between two and three percent for the past 30 years, a representative from the council says there is reason to be concerned. These reasons include international competition modeling itself after the U.S. system and high dropout rates in some graduate programs. There is also a lack of PhD-qualified teachers in some fields, according to educators.
Federal Inquiry on Women in Science
Mar 28 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
The Education Department plans to conduct investigations to see if selected colleges and universities are complying with federal anti-bias laws in their treatment of women in math and science. The inquiries will cover how women are treated as students (at both the graduate and undergraduate levels) and as faculty members (including questions about hiring, promotion, and tenure). About a half dozen institutions will receive the compliance reviews, according to Stephanie Monroe, assistant education secretary for civil rights.
Let My Students Go
Mar 10 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
Many colleges have traditionally relied on the U.S. State Department’s travel warnings to decide which countries are safe for study abroad programs. If a country is on the list, students wanting to study there could forget about financial aid or credit transfer from their home institutions. Many colleges, however, have started to reconsider this approach and have created new ways to allow study abroad in countries on the list. Students who want to enroll in colleges in Israel, which is on the State Department’s list, have prompted the changes. But the policies being adopted by colleges are not specific to Israel and could change the way students, their families, and schools think about which countries to consider for study abroad and how to weigh the risks involved.
Nurturing Native Americans on Campus
Feb 22 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
Nationally, about 15% of native American twelfth graders who are likely to attend college actually earn a bachelor’s degree within eight years. The trend can pose a challenge for tribes who need to find people with enough education for a range of careers ranging from doctors to economic development experts. Colleges and universities, however, are trying to help reverse the trend by implementing indigenous studies programs that aim to reduce cultural shock and improve graduation rates of native American college students.
Shift on International Education
Dec 19 2005 - Inside Higher Ed
Since Sept. 11, colleges and universities in the United States have experienced unprecedented drops in the enrollment of foreign students, at a time when other countries have moved to attract more foreign students. While there are signs of a rebound in the numbers, many international education experts remain worried that the United States is losing the dominance it has held since World War II as the desired place for the best and brightest of the world to seek an education. As concern over the issue has grown, many educators have found the Bush administration indifferent or hostile. But the secretaries of state and education hope to change that when a meeting is held in January with college and university presidents on the issue.
Something New: A 4-Year Degree at a 2-Year College
Dec 14 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Over the past decade, several states including Florida, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Nevada, have started to allow two-year colleges to award bachelor degrees. Other states such as Arizona and California have considered adopting similar changes because of increases in population, shortages of funds to build four-year colleges, and the rising cost of tuition. Community colleges have traditionally educated students who cannot afford to study elsewhere. But the shift in the role of community colleges is not always easy, according to some educators.
College Opportunities Expand for Disabled
Dec 11 2005 - Chicago Tribune (Requires free registration)
In the past, the educational road for Down syndrome students came to an abrupt halt after high school. But in recent years, young adults with developmental disabilities are finding a burst of opportunities--from Maine to Elmhurst, Illinois--that once would have been unthinkable. A handful of experts, however, fear that the new academic emphasis is setting students up for failure.
China Grows as Study Hotspot for U.S. Students
Dec 8 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
China’s rise as an economic powerhouse is resulting in a rapid expansion of its system of higher education, making it the fastest-growing destination for American foreign exchange students, according to a study by the Institute of International Education. The number of American students seeking higher education in China increased 90% from 2002–2004. At the same time, increasing numbers of Chinese students are attracted by university training in the United States, solidifying America’s position as the top destination for Chinese students abroad.
Focus Now on Getting Kids to Finish Degree
Nov 15 2005 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
A former Princeton University president plans to outline an ambitious agenda to combat a problem that has taken place for decades. William Bowen hopes to figure out why so few students earn a degree after America’s higher education leaders have made it a priority to have more students enroll in college. Fifty-four percent of students entering four-year colleges in 1997 had a degree six years later, and even fewer Hispanics and blacks did, according to some of the latest government figures. Bowen plans to examine in detail who graduates and who doesn’t and why at various universities.
Foreign Grad Students Up After 3-Year Drop
Nov 7 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
The number of new international graduate students enrolling in American universities appears to have rebounded slightly, after three years of decline. The figure rose one percent compared with a year ago, according to a new report by the Council of Graduate Schools. University administrators and foreign policymakers have been worried about the recent decline because universities depend on foreign students for teaching and research, especially in the sciences.
Many Collegians Switch Schools, Survey Finds
Nov 7 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
A new survey shows nearly half of all college students take courses at more than one university before attaining their degree. Some educators worry about this trend because research shows transfer students participate in fewer activities on campus, making students less academically enriched. Students argue enrolling at multiple schools can help them take required courses at a less expensive institution and earn a degree more quickly. “It’s a myth we have in higher education to say students start and finish at one institution,” observed Jillian Kinzie, an Indiana University professor who helped compile the survey.
Federal Review of Colleges Under Way
Oct 18 2005 - The Arizona Republic
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has launched a major review of the nation’s colleges. "We make small fixes with programs to emphasize key areas, but we don't think strategically about the bigger picture," Spellings told a new team of policy advisers. Spellings’ Commission on the Future of Higher Education will develop recommendations on how to make colleges more accessible and affordable for families, accountable to policymakers, and competitive with peers worldwide. Observers note that goal is complicated because higher education in the United States is in itself complex.
Reforming Higher Education-Worldwide
Oct 3 2005 - Inside Higher Ed
Thirty-one experts on higher education have launched an ambitious effort to study and offer suggestions on solving some of the most vexing problems facing the academic world. The effort is part of the Fulbright Program to not only promote the exchange of scholars, but to bring teams of scholars together to work on common issues. The group of experts will spend the next year developing proposals that will offer new methods on how governments can support higher education and assure its quality.
Big (lack of) Men on Campus
Sep 23 2005 - USA Today
Visitors to college campuses can’t help but ask the question: Where are the boys? Currently, 135 women receive bachelor’s degrees for every 100 men. That gender imbalance will widen in the coming years, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Education. But the inequity has yet to provoke the kind of response that finally opened opportunities for women a generation ago. In fact, virtually no one is exploring the obvious questions: What has gone wrong? And what happens to all the boys who are not in college?
A Dry Place to Study
Sep 20 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
From Maine to Hawaii, Costa Rica to Israel, colleges and universities have invited Hurricane Katrina’s evacuees to enroll, many waiving tuition for those who had already paid. The schools have generally tried to make the storm-tossed students feel comfortable, although some students are not so comfortable they will return to their home colleges once they reopen. Some schools in the New Orleans area plan to reopen for the spring semester.
Education Chief Targets Colleges
Sep 19 2005 - Detroit News
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings plans to announce a major initiative today to improve higher education. The country “needs a coordinated approach to meet rising enrollment numbers and new economic demands,” Spellings noted. Spellings’ plan consists of creating a commission that will be charged with developing “a comprehensive national strategy for post-secondary education.” The commission will likely tackle issues like affordability and how well colleges prepare students for the global economy. It may also focus on the lack of solid information about what colleges are and are not doing well.
Top 20 Colleges Hold Their Ground in Annual Rankings
Aug 19 2005 - USA Today
Harvard and Princeton continue to share the top spot in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of America’s best colleges. Rounding out the top five are Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke and Stanford, who tied. The top four liberal arts colleges also remain unchanged with Williams College gaining the top spot. The formula for the rankings includes variables such as graduation and retention rates, faculty and financial resources, and the percentage of alumni donating money to their alma mater. Critics say the formula should be changed because it fails to account for many aspects of educational quality.
To Woo Students, Colleges Choose Names That Sell
Aug 11 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Names have gained an increasing importance in the competitive world of higher education. As colleges compete for market share, they are looking for names that project the image they want or reflect the changes they hope to make. Trenton State College, for example, became the College of New Jersey in 1996 when it began raising admission standards and appealing to students from throughout the state. Observers note, however, that not all efforts at name changes are successful.
China Goes to College--In a Big Way
Aug 3 2005 - ABC News/Christian Science Monitor
As China continues to surge onto the global economic stage, it is undergoing one of the most ambitious higher education expansions in the world. Spurred by a government call in the late 1990s to build world-class universities and broaden access to the masses, the country is prying open the doors of institutions that formerly served a narrow elite. Overall college enrollment in China has roughly tripled. The country now outpaces leaders like the United States, India, Russia, and Japan in numbers of students in colleges and universities.
A Nation's Colleges at Risk
Mar 10 2005 - Inside Higher Ed
A new report says American higher education faces serious problems, especially with graduation rates. Several of the problems could be fixed with good accountability systems, the study notes. The report’s authors say good accountability systems require a partnership between colleges and lawmakers “through which shared goals are explicitly established, progress is measured, and work to improve performance is motivated and guided.” Those efforts must also reflect goals for public policy and not just institutional goals, according to the report.
Professors at Harvard Confront Its President
Feb 16 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Harvard University professors have confronted the school’s president, expressing strong dissatisfaction with his leadership and charging he has damaged the institution. The professors say their concerns over Lawrence H. Summers go well beyond the controversy that resulted in the president’s remarks that suggested innate sex differences could account for the lack of women in science and math careers. Summers apologized again to faculty during a recent meeting, noting “if I could turn back the clock, I would have said and done things very differently.” The school’s faculty will hold a second meeting Feb. 22 to continue discussing their concerns.
Spellings Calls for Better Information From Nation's Colleges
Feb 15 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says colleges should better measure and report their students’ progress. She has urged university presidents to adopt the spirit of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act that governs K–12 students. Spellings, however, has not suggested that a higher education equivalent of the federal law is in the offing. And college officials note they are confident Spellings understands that K–12 and higher education face different challenges that require different solutions for accountability.
Advanced Courses in High School May Not Mean Success at College
Dec 23 2004 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
College-level courses offered in high school, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate, do not appear to improve academic performance in college unless students take the tests at the end of each course, according to a major study by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley. But, the report emphasized, performing well on the difficult exams is a better predictor of success in college than nearly anything else in a student's high school record.
U.S. Slips in Attracting the World's Best Students
Dec 21 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Universities throughout the United States are facing intense competition as higher education undergoes rapid globalization. The European Union is streamlining the continent’s higher education system and offering American-style degree programs taught in English. Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Asian countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong are recruiting foreign students. China is persuading top Chinese scholars to return home from American universities. A spokesman for the Educational Testing Service says the recent trend is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Tuition Increases Slow to 10.5% at Public Colleges, Study Says
Oct 20 2004 - The Washington Post
A new study by the College Board shows college tuition rates increased at a slower rate this year. Tuition climbed by 10.5 percent at public four-year colleges and six percent at private schools, according to the report. In 2003, tuition rates rose by 13 percent, the first double-digit increase in a decade. The study also found that loans, rather than grants, play an increasing role in helping students pay for college.
New Generation of Education Research Centers is Chosen
Sep 22 2004 - Education Week
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded contracts to three universities that will head the first of a new generation of national education research centers. The centers at Vanderbilt University, John Hopkins University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will focus separately on school choice, rural education, and boosting the performance of low-achieving students. Education officials say the centers are smaller than the generation of federal education research centers that preceded them. However, they will cover new territory by enlisting non-university research partners and offering more focused programs.
Low-Income Students Scarce at Elite Colleges
Sep 20 2004 - USA Today
Several studies show that low-income students are becoming a rarity at the nation’s most prestigious schools. A few colleges and universities, however, are hoping to reverse this trend. Harvard University, for example, unveiled a plan in February to help more than 1,000 low-and moderate-income students this year. Brown University plans to use a $100 million gift to replace loans with grants for needy students.
National Study Shows Colleges in Need of Help
Sep 15 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Although America’s K–12 schools have improved in recent years, universities are failing in several states, according to a new study. The report, Measuring Up 2004: The National Report Card on Higher Education, says teachers are more qualified, and more students are taking at least one upper-level math or science course. The report also notes high school students are generally better prepared for college than a decade ago. But the study says that many states have fewer students enrolling in college and are providing less funding to help students pay for their higher education.
Kerry Talks to Black and Latino Audiences About Education
Jun 30 2004 - The Salt Lake Tribune
A quality college education, with an emphasis in math and science, is critical to strengthen civil rights and enhance economic opportunities, according to John Kerry. The Democratic presidential candidate recently promoted that message to black and Latino voters at two campaign appearances in Phoenix and Chicago. “We need an education revolution, a GI Bill for the new century, and the next economy,” Kerry told voters. Aides for President Bush say the president plans to contest Kerry’s positions on both education and opportunities for minorities.
Giant African Snails Targeted for Roundup
May 18 2004 - NSTA - Tim Weber
The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is engaged in an effort to collect the giant African snails being used in classrooms and nature centers or kept as pets in private homes. The Service encourages anyone who has the highly invasive snails to turn them in voluntarily without fear of penalty.
2-Year Schools No Longer 2nd Choice
Mar 16 2004 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
Record numbers of high-school graduates and skyrocketing college costs are making community colleges, which traditionally served older and low-income students, an increasingly popular choice with younger students. While this shift is making community colleges more vibrant and student-focused, many educators worry that soaring enrollment could compromise the two-year college's usual mission of offering an affordable education to all.
Report: Number of Math Majors Down Sharply
Jul 24 2002 - American Mathematical Society
According to the American Mathematical Society’s most recent survey of undergraduate mathematics programs, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in mathematics in 2000 was down 14 percent from 1995 (and 19 percent from 1990). On the bright side, the number of students enrolled in statistics courses rose by 45 percent over the decade. Click above for the press release, or click here for the full 303-page report, which contains comprehensive data on mathematics majors, enrollments, curriculum, and faculty.
SAT Overhaul is Planned
Jun 26 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In a move that is likely to send ripples through the college admissions process, the College Board's trustees are expected to vote tomorrow to revamp the SAT, starting in the spring of 2005. In what may be the biggest change, the revised test is expected to include a 20-to-30-minute handwritten essay question that will be scored by the board and then made available to admissions officers at colleges where the students have submitted their scores. College Board officials have also indicated that the new test will cover a third year of high school math, eliminate the verbal analogy questions, and increase the emphasis on reading skills.
Gender Gap Among College Graduates Has Educators Wondering Where the Men Are
Jun 25 2002 - Washington Post
At colleges and universities across the nation, the proportion of bachelor's degrees awarded to women reached a post-war high this year at 57 percent, with the gender gap even greater among Hispanics and African Americans. (It's worth noting, however, that women continue to lag in a handful of high-paying fields, including engineering and the sciences.) What factors are driving these educational disparities, and what are the implications for society and the workforce? The above article takes a look...
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