| International |
No-deal Brexit ‘will leave UK science dead for years’ | Leaving without a deal would put at risk the UK’s involvement in the €80 billion (US$88 billion) Horizon 2020 research programme and its successor, the €94 billion (US$103 billion) Horizon Europe programme. According to Robert-Jan Smits, former director general of research and innovation at the European Commission, who was one of the main architects of Horizon 2020, there is “zero chance” of the UK negotiating associate membership of the programme if it leaves the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.
There is a crisis on campuses – but it’s about racism, not free speech | There is now a mini-industry within the media, often backed up by unquestioning politicians, based on the idea that Britain’s universities are going to the dogs. But let me tell you about another crisis that you probably haven’t heard of. In 2018, it was reported that the number of racist incidents in universities across the UK had surged by more than 60% in the two years preceding.
India restricts university collaborations with China | Indian colleges and universities will not be able to collaborate with Chinese institutions without prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, the higher education regulator the University Grants Commission of India has said. The limitations on academic and research collaboration also apply to existing agreements, which the government has now said can only become operational after endorsement from the home and foreign ministries, and will have to be suspended until they are approved.
| U.S. National |
The benefits of Hispanic student-teacher matching for AP courses | Because teachers of color serve as role models, and tend to hold higher expectations for students of color, school leaders are increasingly warming to the idea of providing students regular access to teachers who share their ethnic or racial background–including Hispanic students. A growing body of literature demonstrates that students who have demographically similar teachers exhibit better academic outcomes. Most of this research, however, has focused on the relationship between Black teachers and Black students, and there is little empirical evidence on the benefits of ethnic match for Hispanic students.
Why Skills Training Can’t Replace Higher Education | One of the dominant narratives in the media is that we need to produce more workers now who can do whatever is needed now, using short-term postsecondary certification programs. The focus is typically on “vocational” skills, contrasted with what too often are characterized as relatively useless liberal education outcomes, including knowledge of world history and cultures and other “indulgences” such as crafting understandable prose and judging the veracity and utility of information.
| U.S. States and Territories |
As states cut funding for higher education, universities use lavish perks to compete for students | Lavish perks are now common at major colleges, part of a national “arms race” in amenities from fancier dorms to gourmet food to rec centers that resemble water parks…As states have cut funding for higher education, few universities have cut their ambition. Instead they’re competing to expand enrollment and recruit more out-of-state and international students, who typically pay much more for the same education. And as a result, at big state universities all over the country, it can get harder and harder to actually find students who are from the state.
How long can Illinois let these universities shrink? | Student enrollment at Illinois public universities is down again this year, but state budget outlays for the 11 schools is up. It’s not the paradox it seems. Intense competition for students today is forcing states to spend more on recruiting, financial aid and facilities. Illinois has been on the losing end of that battle, with a net outflow of college-bound students in a trend that shows no signs of letting up.
Educational disparities still plague Minnesota students | The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has just released a comprehensive report on the performance of Minnesota’s K-12 schools in preparing our children for their futures. On average, Minnesota schools perform well compared with other states. Unfortunately, those averages mask some of the worst educational disparities in the nation. If you are a low-income white Minnesotan or a Minnesotan of color, whether your children attend a traditional or a charter school, chances are high that they are not getting the education they deserve.
Legislature Must Repair Damage to UW System | During Walker’s time in office the state cut the amount of General Purpose Revenue it spent on the UW by 12%, after inflation. From 2013-2018, as other states were adding to their higher education systems after the recession, our legislature just kept on cutting. Per student spending was slashed by 8% during this time—we placed 47th among the 50 states for student spending! Only Mississippi, West Virginia, and Oklahoma did worse.
OPINION: Differential tuition and program fees have to go | I will have paid $8,000 in program fees and differential tuition alone to graduate from the University of Arizona with Honors and a double major — and I am not unique…Around 12 years ago, the nation faced an economic crisis and Arizona began the largest cuts in state funding for higher education in the country. Many UA programs and colleges turned to students in the form of new program fees and differential tuition to stay afloat, even as the UA raised in-state tuition by more than 20% three years in a row.
PA System of Higher Ed seeking $100M from state for overhaul | The State System of Higher Education, which oversees 14 public colleges in Pennsylvania, has requested $100 million from the state legislature to overhaul the system. According to a press release, the $100 million would be a non-recurring fund spread out over five years. The funds would be used to create enhanced online learning opportunities, transform technology including student information services, and a new consortium of shared services to support the redesign effort. The consortium is being developed with the goal of sharing services amongst the 14 universities to create long-term savings.
| Institutional |
We All Need to Be Data People [subscription required] | Data literacy, from top to bottom at an institution, is critical to improving student success.
A Hippocratic Oath for Algorithmic Intervention | So here’s something I’m thinking we need: a version of the Hippocratic oath for education technology. Can we agree on a framework that respects each student as an individual and invests in a “first do no harm” ethos? More precisely, I am concerned about aggregated, algorithm-driven interventions and how they are applied at the individual level.
Pay Up or Get Out | The widely publicized incident led to discussions in higher ed circles about how far colleges should go in trying to get students to pay up. There is a wide spectrum of opinions on what strategies colleges should use to ensure tuition and other fees are paid…Some colleges prevent students with high balances from registering for the next semester, while others offer them interest- and fee-free loans. Some institutions charge late fees but don’t automatically drop students until after the add/drop period is over.
Moving Away From Merit Aid | Pennsylvania has the second-lowest level of per-capita state support for higher education, according to a 2018 report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. And its public four-year colleges have the third-highest in-state tuition and fees in the nation, according to a 2018 report from the College Board. To address that problem, the university created the Pitt Success Pell Match Program, which began this fall. The program takes a data-driven, targeted approach to disbursing grant aid. It provides a dollar-for-dollar match for all Pell Grants.