News Items from the Week of Nov. 20, 2015

International

Uganda: Are African Private Universities As Pitiable As Portrayed Abroad? | Last week, a staff at the University of Southampton sent me an article titled ‘Africa’s teaching shops: the rise of private universities’ by Chris Havergal published in the Times Higher Education magazine in the UK.

Let’s have the guts to invest in students | A sober analysis of our circumstances has revealed that free education is feasible and possible, says Malekgapuru Makgoba.

#FeesMustFall | In South Africa the struggle for free tuition — and fundamental university transformation — continues after massive student protests.

Pressing problems spur radical shift in global science | The focus of global science has radically shifted from basic research to applied research, with high-income countries cutting back on public spending while private sector funding has been maintained or increased, according to the newly-released UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030.

U.S. National

Why Growth in International Enrollments Could Soon Be Slowing | The most recent study on foreign-student trends was just released today, but the real question for American higher education is what the next report, one year from now, will show.

Going Beyond the Pilot Project | The Association of American Colleges & Universities has over the years embraced numerous practices as key to promoting student learning, student engagement and student completion.

Bringing Equity and Quality Learning Together: Institutional Priorities for Tracking and Advancing Underserved Students’ Success | AAC&U surveyed Chief Academic Officers at member institutions from July-October 2015 concerning priorities related to learning outcomes, assessment, general education design, high-impact practices, and data tracking and goal setting around equity and quality learning.

Thurgood Marshall Fund: Great Need for Continued HBCU Support | Rabbi Jonah Pesner set the tone for the work of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and the schools they serve.

College Completion Rates Decline More Rapidly | Fewer students are earning a college credential within six years of first enrolling in college, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Moody’s: Colleges have entered the new normal of flat tuition revenue | It’s going to be another year of lackluster tuition revenue growth for universities, as the pipeline of students heading to college slows and families remain sensitive to prices, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report Thursday.

U.S. States

A commitment to keeping dreams affordable | As college presidents, working in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, continue to review the cost of a higher education, I’m pleased to write that our collective commitment to keeping the dream of a college education affordable, is stronger than ever. (pdf)

College accrediting commission for California ousted | In a major shift for California community colleges, the system’s Board of Governors voted Monday to oust the controversial accrediting commission that has overseen campus quality for half a century and is threatening to shut down City College of San Francisco.

Marilynne Robinson to lecture on crisis in higher ed | After warning an audience at Stanford University last month about current utilitarian trends in American higher education, one of the University of Iowa’s most recognized faculty members is scheduled to deliver the same message closer to home next month.

Students find success at Nebraska private colleges and universities | More than 33,600 students were enrolled in Nebraska private nonprofit colleges and universities in 2013, which is almost a quarter of the students enrolled in college in Nebraska.

Institutional

Rider faculty agrees to a two-year wage freeze | Planned faculty layoffs at Rider University and the elimination of some majors have been averted as a result of a two-year wage freeze approved by the faculty union.

Roger Williams continues to freeze tuition; no increase for 4 years for current students | Roger Williams University says it will continue to freeze its tuition.

UM president announces 200 job cuts; 52 full-time faculty, 149 full-time non-faculty | The University of Montana will cut 201 full-time equivalents — 52 faculty posts and 149 other positions — to meet its budget challenge in the 2016 and 2017 fiscal year, President Royce Engstrom announced Tuesday.

New UD president: We have to keep college affordable | The University of Delaware’s new president says his top priorities are making the campus more diverse and welcoming, and keeping college affordable and accessible, all while continuing to push for excellent education and cutting-edge research.