International
Grading Vietnam’s higher education reforms | Higher education reform has been recognised as a national priority since Vietnam’s successful reform or ‘Doi Moi’ policy in the late 1980s.
Vulnerable Brits are facing a personal debt crisis | Back in 2010, reeling from a global financial crisis, Britain entered into a period of austerity. Talk from the government was of tightening belts, sensible spending and paying down debt. But while public expenditure has undoubtedly been tightened since then, levels of consumer credit have been creeping inexorably upwards.
Apprenticeship levy ‘could worsen part-time degree crisis’ | The £3 billion-a-year apprenticeship levy on larger firms should be extended to cover employer-sponsored degrees, or universities risk losing students as companies respond to the levy by cutting degree spending, according to the author of a Higher Education Policy Institute report.
How the Banks Stole Higher Education | Most progressive-minded people share an inherent belief that education should be free, a universal human right rather than the privilege of a wealthy few. For the left, it’s an article of faith.
U.S. National
Young Girls of Color Still Facing Challenges on the Road to Higher Ed | It has long been assumed that girls of color are faring much better than their male counterparts. But that’s not necessarily true, experts say, drawing new attention to the daunting challenges that young girls of color face as they progress through adolescence and go on to enroll in college.
Enhancing Identity Development for Black Students at PWIs | While Minority Serving Institutions—namely, historically Black colleges and universities—have been noted for their ability to contribute to the success of Black students, predominantly White institutions have struggled. Particularly, PWIs have struggled in their ability to foster environments where Black students can successfully develop their identity.
Who would benefit most from free college? | The debate over free college is more likely to be resolved on political than on empirical grounds, but the ultimate design of proposals to change how students and taxpayers pay for higher education should carefully consider their likely distributional consequences and the tradeoffs between targeted and universal programs.
Merit scholarships steal from low-income students | There’s a growing competition among colleges and universities to enroll students who can foot the bill for their education with little or no financial aid from the schools. But paradoxically, the colleges are attempting to attract these highly sought-after students by giving them financial aid — even when the students can pay their bills without it.
U.S. States
Oklahoma chancellor: Higher education continues to be great investment | As state agencies grapple with mid-year budget reductions and state leaders seek solutions to an anticipated $1.3 billion shortfall next year, it is important to explain the impacts of this crisis from public higher education’s perspective.
A Broader Protest Agenda | Race is still a prominent issue in this semester’s rallies and sit-ins, but students are also pushing issues related to campus employees, foreign policy, state laws on sexual orientation and more — and linking the various topics.
New public higher ed affordability program announced in Lowell | A groundbreaking statewide college program announced on Thursday will create a more affordable college degree for [Mass.] community college transfers, offering rebates on tuition and other incentives to get students through school more quickly.
Defunding Diversity | Tennessee Legislature votes to cut all state funds for office that promotes diversity at state’s flagship university, where students walked out of class to oppose the legislation.
Legislators Approve $600 Million to Help Illinois Colleges Stay Afloat | Illinois state lawmakers have approved $600 million in short-term higher-education funding to keep public colleges and universities operating during the state’s budget deadlock, the Associated Press reports.
Institutional
Race, Graffiti and an Arrest | U of Wisconsin police pull black student from class to arrest him for allegedly spray-painting anti-racist messages across campus, prompting criticism that university cares more about graffiti than bigotry.
Reprieve at Hope College | Board drops plan to fire president immediately but may do so next month. Case is latest in which campus leaders face ouster from trustees, despite strong backing from students, professors and alumni.
The Spending War on Student Recruitment | At a time when everyone should be committed to lowering the cost of college, it could trigger a windfall for education marketers and become the most expensive component of a higher education, writes John Katzman.
President of Embattled Accreditor of For-Profit Colleges Resigns | The president of the embattled accreditor of many for-profit colleges, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, has resigned after seven years at the helm. In a statement on Monday, the council said Al Gray had stepped down but did not say why.
A Health Care Strategy for Higher Ed | The theory of population health management has been in development for about a decade but is only now being considered in higher education. To adapt it to a college setting, Venit said, institutions need to do four things: identify the factors that determine if a student belongs to the low-, medium- or high-risk group; come up with support strategies for each group; find a software platform that lets advisers, tutors and others monitor students; and assign responsibility for student success.
New Jersey College’s Board Fires President and Top Lawyer | Essex County College, a community college in Newark, N.J., has fired its president and top lawyer, reports The Star-Ledger. The officials were suspended last month by the Board of Trustees.
CCSF Back on the Brink | Taxpayers in California and San Francisco helped City College sort out its accreditation crisis and loss of a third of its students. But the new money runs dry soon, and faculty plan strike next week over brewing budget fight.
Fisk Provost Resigns, Taking U. of Minnesota, Morris Job | Rodney Hanley, provost of the university for 18 months, announced late Thursday he was resigning his post at Fisk to become chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Morris. His departure is effective June 30.