Author Profile

Richard DeMillo

Richard DeMillo is Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Management and director of the Center for 21st Century Universities at Georgia Tech. He has been on the faculties of Purdue University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Padua, but he has divided his career among academia, industry and government. He directed the Computer Research Division at the National Science Foundation and was Hewlett-Packard's first chief technology officer. His most recent book is Abelard to Apple: The Fate of American Colleges and Universities, published in 2011 by MIT Press.

Articles by Richard DeMillo

The Accelerating Pace of Change in Higher Education

Feb 8, 2017 · Richard DeMillo · 2 Comments

Judging from recent books, articles, and editorials, higher education is poised for a cataclysmic collapse. There is a considerable body of opinion that systemic problems such as runaway tuition, student debt, low graduation rates and pervasive elitism are so wired into the collective culture of college faculty and administrators that only drastic and disruptive measures … Continue reading “The Accelerating Pace of Change in Higher Education”

Accreditation–or Real Quality Assurance?

Jan 16, 2013 · Richard DeMillo · No Comments

Higher education still relies on a weak accreditation system, but something better will replace it.

Taylor Walsh’s “Unlocking the Gates” of Academe

Feb 22, 2012 · Richard DeMillo · No Comments

Let’s party like it’s 1995.

Reforming College Sports

Jan 20, 2012 · Richard DeMillo · No Comments

We need a “firewall” between big-time sports and university academics.

Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time Apr 20, 2018
One of higher education’s enduring questions is about the proper role of faculty. The debate is growing hotter, as increased activism by some faculty is causing pushback from many quarters. A week ago, the Martin Center published an article by Fabio Rojas in which he described the proper role of a faculty member as one … Continue reading “Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time”
The Dictatorship of the Offended Apr 18, 2018
The college campus is increasingly a focal point for shaping social norms, largely a result of rising college attendance; only five percent of the generation that came of age in the 1930s were college graduates, as opposed to roughly a third of millennials. Sometimes, however, this shaping is not always an improvement. In recent years, … Continue reading “The Dictatorship of the Offended”
Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom Apr 16, 2018
The chickens have come home to roost at Duke’s Divinity School. Protesting students claim the school is insufficiently diverse. More needs to be done, they say, to combat racism, transphobia, homophobia, and associated evils. All this despite a campaign by the administration to achieve these very aims in the course of which a distinguished faculty … Continue reading “Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom”

How to Stop Student Aid from Driving Up Tuition Apr 6, 2018
The Department of Education’s method for awarding college students financial aid has many perverse effects. It contributes to rising tuition, keeps students in the dark about their aid eligibility for too long, gives some colleges unfair special treatment, and does not incentivize colleges to improve. But a small tweak would address those problems: replacing the … Continue reading “How to Stop Student Aid from Driving Up Tuition”
North Carolina’s Universities Are Affordable—But There’s Room for Improvement Apr 2, 2018
Each year, higher education seems to become less and less affordable: As tuition prices continue to rise, an increasing number of students leave college with crippling amounts of student loan debt. Yet, some state university systems have managed to keep the cost of attendance down. One is in North Carolina, where the average cost of … Continue reading “North Carolina’s Universities Are Affordable—But There’s Room for Improvement”
Why Conservative Policymakers Should Support Community Colleges Mar 23, 2018
In the first installment of this series, I offered several reasons why conservative families ought to consider sending their kids to the local community college. This time, I would like to examine some of the reasons why conservative state legislators and other policymakers should be supportive of the two-year colleges in their states. I do … Continue reading “Why Conservative Policymakers Should Support Community Colleges”

Why Aren’t There More Apprentices in America? Jan 12, 2018
Within the fractious realm of higher education policy, one of the few ideas to gain bipartisan support is the expansion of technical training for young workers, largely through apprenticeships. Both the political left and right favor apprenticeships as a way to educate and train America’s youth for future success while also meeting the demands of … Continue reading “Why Aren’t There More Apprentices in America?”
Howling Cow Ice Cream: An NC State Experiment in Hands-On Learning Dec 29, 2017
In the past, I’ve been critical of commercial activity on North Carolina’s public university campuses. It competes with private business, attracts unfair tax advantages, and may (in some cases) violate provisions of the Umstead Act. It’s also far outside a public university’s three-part mission of education, research, and service. In most cases, I think business … Continue reading “Howling Cow Ice Cream: An NC State Experiment in Hands-On Learning”
Easing the Transition from Soldier to Scholar Dec 4, 2017
The college diploma has long been regarded as the ticket to the good life. And most well-paid jobs require some kind of academic credential. But academia is not the only place to learn valuable skills and reasoning. The United States armed forces also have a long track record for training young people for demanding tasks. … Continue reading “Easing the Transition from Soldier to Scholar”

Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time Apr 20, 2018
One of higher education’s enduring questions is about the proper role of faculty. The debate is growing hotter, as increased activism by some faculty is causing pushback from many quarters. A week ago, the Martin Center published an article by Fabio Rojas in which he described the proper role of a faculty member as one … Continue reading “Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time”
The Dictatorship of the Offended Apr 18, 2018
The college campus is increasingly a focal point for shaping social norms, largely a result of rising college attendance; only five percent of the generation that came of age in the 1930s were college graduates, as opposed to roughly a third of millennials. Sometimes, however, this shaping is not always an improvement. In recent years, … Continue reading “The Dictatorship of the Offended”
Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom Apr 16, 2018
The chickens have come home to roost at Duke’s Divinity School. Protesting students claim the school is insufficiently diverse. More needs to be done, they say, to combat racism, transphobia, homophobia, and associated evils. All this despite a campaign by the administration to achieve these very aims in the course of which a distinguished faculty … Continue reading “Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom”