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.

The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists Oct 17, 2018
Making college admissions “test-optional” has been steadily gaining steam among elite and liberal arts American colleges. In late September, Colby College and Rosemont College joined the hundreds of other institutions that do not require their applicants to submit standardized test scores to be admitted to the school. Other schools that have “test-optional” policies include Bowdoin … Continue reading “The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists”
How Colleges Could Benefit from an NBA Rule Change Oct 15, 2018
It is increasingly apparent that college basketball serves as an unofficial minor league for the National Basketball Association (NBA) rather than as an extracurricular activity for students. And it is not by accident, but by design. Take the NBA’s “one-and-done” rule, for instance. It has sparked debate since its addition to the 2005 NBA Collective … Continue reading “How Colleges Could Benefit from an NBA Rule Change”
The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing Oct 10, 2018
Science Publishing Is Incoherent, Expensive, and Slow Communication is essential to science. The aim of scientific publication is to convey new findings as quickly as possible to as many interested parties as possible. But the world of “peer-reviewed” scientific publishing no longer functions as it should. Many publishing practices were devised at a time when … Continue reading “The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing”

Answering the Perennial Question: Why Does College Cost So Much? Oct 19, 2018
Last month, Amanda Riley, writing for The Atlantic, asked a good question: why does higher education in the United States cost significantly more than in every other OECD nation except Luxembourg? Related to that: Why have college costs risen sharply over time? Unfortunately, while the questions Riley raises are compellingly important, the answers she provided … Continue reading “Answering the Perennial Question: Why Does College Cost So Much?”
The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing Oct 10, 2018
Science Publishing Is Incoherent, Expensive, and Slow Communication is essential to science. The aim of scientific publication is to convey new findings as quickly as possible to as many interested parties as possible. But the world of “peer-reviewed” scientific publishing no longer functions as it should. Many publishing practices were devised at a time when … Continue reading “The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing”
How Women Can Avoid the Student Loan Gender Gap Oct 5, 2018
Every year, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) releases a new report illustrating how women are disproportionately impacted by student loan debt. The average woman graduates with $2,739 more in federal loans than the average male graduate, they argue. But while suggestions to fix this gender debt gap have typically targeted lawmakers, students are … Continue reading “How Women Can Avoid the Student Loan Gender Gap”

The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists Oct 17, 2018
Making college admissions “test-optional” has been steadily gaining steam among elite and liberal arts American colleges. In late September, Colby College and Rosemont College joined the hundreds of other institutions that do not require their applicants to submit standardized test scores to be admitted to the school. Other schools that have “test-optional” policies include Bowdoin … Continue reading “The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists”
The Success of Concealed Carry at Texas Public Colleges Oct 12, 2018
The fight for gun rights on campus is often contentious and generally does not favor the Second Amendment. But in August, pro-gun advocates won a major battle when a federal appeals court threw out a legal challenge by three University of Texas at Austin professors to Texas’s “campus carry” law. Campus carry, approved by the … Continue reading “The Success of Concealed Carry at Texas Public Colleges”
The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing Oct 10, 2018
Science Publishing Is Incoherent, Expensive, and Slow Communication is essential to science. The aim of scientific publication is to convey new findings as quickly as possible to as many interested parties as possible. But the world of “peer-reviewed” scientific publishing no longer functions as it should. Many publishing practices were devised at a time when … Continue reading “The Tangled Web of Scientific Publishing”

Answering the Perennial Question: Why Does College Cost So Much? Oct 19, 2018
Last month, Amanda Riley, writing for The Atlantic, asked a good question: why does higher education in the United States cost significantly more than in every other OECD nation except Luxembourg? Related to that: Why have college costs risen sharply over time? Unfortunately, while the questions Riley raises are compellingly important, the answers she provided … Continue reading “Answering the Perennial Question: Why Does College Cost So Much?”
The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists Oct 17, 2018
Making college admissions “test-optional” has been steadily gaining steam among elite and liberal arts American colleges. In late September, Colby College and Rosemont College joined the hundreds of other institutions that do not require their applicants to submit standardized test scores to be admitted to the school. Other schools that have “test-optional” policies include Bowdoin … Continue reading “The Evidence for Standardized Tests Already Exists”
How Colleges Could Benefit from an NBA Rule Change Oct 15, 2018
It is increasingly apparent that college basketball serves as an unofficial minor league for the National Basketball Association (NBA) rather than as an extracurricular activity for students. And it is not by accident, but by design. Take the NBA’s “one-and-done” rule, for instance. It has sparked debate since its addition to the 2005 NBA Collective … Continue reading “How Colleges Could Benefit from an NBA Rule Change”