Author Profile

Abraham Unger

Abraham Unger, Ph.D. is Director of Urban Programs and Associate Professor of Government and Politics at Wagner College. From 2017 to 2020 he also served as Project Manager of the East Shore Local Development Corporation for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

He is the author of books on local economic development and community partnerships, including Business Improvement Districts in the United States and The Death and Life of the American Middle Class.

Articles by Abraham Unger

Why Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing and How to Revive Them

Mar 31, 2021 · Abraham Unger · Comments Off

The loss of public trust in universities that has risen to front page news did not suddenly emerge in 2020. In 2018 the non-partisan Gallup organization found that, for the first time, less than half of Americans have “a lot of confidence” in higher education. Even more pointedly, Gallup reported that “No other institution has … Continue reading “Why Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing and How to Revive Them”

Is Our Obsession with College Fueling a Mental Health Crisis? Aug 2, 2021
Long before Covid, mental health experts declared a different sort of pandemic—a precipitous decline in mental health on college campuses. One 2019 survey by the American College Health Association found that over the course of a year, 55.9 percent of students reported feeling hopelessness, 65.6 percent reported feeling very lonely, 70.8 percent reported feeling very … Continue reading “Is Our Obsession with College Fueling a Mental Health Crisis?”
Beauty and Wisdom: Renew the Culture by Restoring the Liberal Arts Jul 30, 2021
Universities are in dire need of reform. They are too expensive; the classwork is too easy; the curriculum too unfocused. Too many students drop out or don’t care. Indeed, many of today’s universities have strayed so far from their original purpose that creating a path for reform and renewal seems impossible. But a new book … Continue reading “Beauty and Wisdom: Renew the Culture by Restoring the Liberal Arts”
Safe Spaces: Balancing Academic Freedom and Wokeness Jul 28, 2021
The following is adapted from an address given at a Martin Center luncheon on July 15, 2021. Finally, I come to my main argument: Safe spaces. I want to come out in favor of safe spaces. Not everywhere, or for all purposes, but in general I think there should be a strong presumption in favor … Continue reading “Safe Spaces: Balancing Academic Freedom and Wokeness”

Did You Know? Enrollment Drops for Undergraduates, Rises for Graduate Students Jul 8, 2021
Since the onset of the pandemic, nationwide enrollment in both undergraduate and graduate fields has drastically shifted. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center came out with a report on college enrollment in 2021. During the Spring 2021 term, undergraduate enrollment decreased by 4.9 percent, and graduate enrollment increased by 4.6 percent. In Spring 2020, overall … Continue reading “Did You Know? Enrollment Drops for Undergraduates, Rises for Graduate Students”
The Edifice Complex Has Come for Esports Jun 28, 2021
Collegiate esports—competitive video gaming—has grown dramatically in recent years. Small private colleges and large state universities alike have built programs to attract students, grow name recognition, and pull in sponsorships. However, the expensive esports arenas in which students compete, and the annual budget commitments that come with new programs, have only attracted sponsors in a … Continue reading “The Edifice Complex Has Come for Esports”
How Can Professors Inspire Students to Want to Learn? Jun 23, 2021
COVID-19 has revolutionized how we think about online college teaching. Until last spring, two perspectives predominated. One argued that massively enrolled online classes presented by impressive teachers or prestigious universities would increase efficiency while preserving quality. The other worried about the quality of online classes, and that the gap between those able to afford in-person … Continue reading “How Can Professors Inspire Students to Want to Learn?”

How Can Professors Inspire Students to Want to Learn? Jun 23, 2021
COVID-19 has revolutionized how we think about online college teaching. Until last spring, two perspectives predominated. One argued that massively enrolled online classes presented by impressive teachers or prestigious universities would increase efficiency while preserving quality. The other worried about the quality of online classes, and that the gap between those able to afford in-person … Continue reading “How Can Professors Inspire Students to Want to Learn?”
The Scuba Model of Higher Education May 21, 2021
Scuba diving ought to be very dangerous. Recreational diving involves submerging to depths of up to 60 feet. If something goes wrong at that depth, a quick return to the surface is not an option. Ascending to the surface too quickly will cause decompression sickness, which can be deadly. The diver needs to solve any … Continue reading “The Scuba Model of Higher Education”
Regional Colleges Can Compete by Emphasizing Choosing the Right Major Apr 9, 2021
The wage premium attached to a bachelor’s degree largely explains why high school graduates who would have previously looked for a job now apply to college. But they need to know up-front that what they major in has far more importance in landing a well-paying job than where they spend the next four years. For … Continue reading “Regional Colleges Can Compete by Emphasizing Choosing the Right Major”

Is Our Obsession with College Fueling a Mental Health Crisis? Aug 2, 2021
Long before Covid, mental health experts declared a different sort of pandemic—a precipitous decline in mental health on college campuses. One 2019 survey by the American College Health Association found that over the course of a year, 55.9 percent of students reported feeling hopelessness, 65.6 percent reported feeling very lonely, 70.8 percent reported feeling very … Continue reading “Is Our Obsession with College Fueling a Mental Health Crisis?”
Letter to the Editor: Davidson College has changed Aug 1, 2021
To the editor: I graduated from Davidson College nearly 50 years ago. Since that time, the College has maintained that the culture of the school has remained unchanged. The failure to adopt the Chicago Principles of Free Expression demonstrates to this graduate that this is simply not true. Thank you for your coverage of what … Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: Davidson College has changed”
Beauty and Wisdom: Renew the Culture by Restoring the Liberal Arts Jul 30, 2021
Universities are in dire need of reform. They are too expensive; the classwork is too easy; the curriculum too unfocused. Too many students drop out or don’t care. Indeed, many of today’s universities have strayed so far from their original purpose that creating a path for reform and renewal seems impossible. But a new book … Continue reading “Beauty and Wisdom: Renew the Culture by Restoring the Liberal Arts”