Did You Know? Grad School Can Affect Whether Students Take a Class Pass/Fail

Oct 15, 2020 · · No Comments on Did You Know? Grad School Can Affect Whether Students Take a Class Pass/Fail

Since the pandemic, many colleges have gone from giving letter grades to offering students a pass/fail grading option for their courses. Letter grades become a passing (P), which gives students credit but is not included in their GPA. If a student fails, they receive an F that stays on their record. Schools suggest that students … Continue reading “Did You Know? Grad School Can Affect Whether Students Take a Class Pass/Fail”

Without Lab Time or Facilities, Students Get Lower-Quality Education

Oct 12, 2020 · · No Comments on Without Lab Time or Facilities, Students Get Lower-Quality Education

In spring 2020, when universities went online due to COVID-19, few of them expected to be online in the fall as well. After a failed reopening of schools, courses again went online. Davidson College in North Carolina launched a College Crisis Initiative to determine how “colleges and universities innovate in a crisis mindset” and found … Continue reading “Without Lab Time or Facilities, Students Get Lower-Quality Education”

How Many Students Are Hospitalized with COVID-19? NC Colleges Don’t Know

Oct 5, 2020 · · No Comments on How Many Students Are Hospitalized with COVID-19? NC Colleges Don’t Know

For college campuses across North Carolina, the fall ushered in a less-than-ideal reality. The coronavirus, although under greater control than in the spring, was—and is—widely circulating. Within the first few weeks of the semester, hundreds of students tested positive at UNC campuses including UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and East Carolina University. Since then, … Continue reading “How Many Students Are Hospitalized with COVID-19? NC Colleges Don’t Know”

Did You Know? No Tuition Refund, But a Tuition Freeze for UNC Schools

Oct 1, 2020 · · No Comments on Did You Know? No Tuition Refund, But a Tuition Freeze for UNC Schools

The abrupt switch to online classes was shocking for tens of thousands of students and professors across the country. Universities were then awash in refund demands from students and their parents. Students felt they deserved at least a partial tuition refund because online courses differ drastically from in-person courses. Many universities did not give in … Continue reading “Did You Know? No Tuition Refund, But a Tuition Freeze for UNC Schools”

Is College Football an Expensive Luxury for Many Universities?

Sep 25, 2020 · · No Comments on Is College Football an Expensive Luxury for Many Universities?

The importance of college football to university education is vastly overrated. Rather than an integral part of the college experience, football means more student debt, another burden for taxpayers, and a compromised education for athletes. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting universities to develop costly new teaching methodologies, require expensive campus protection strategies, and has caused … Continue reading “Is College Football an Expensive Luxury for Many Universities?”

In Reopening, UNC Leaders Failed Their Students

Sep 7, 2020 · · No Comments on In Reopening, UNC Leaders Failed Their Students

Though college leaders had the summer to plan for students to return to campus, the fall 2020 semester has arrived as a bust. After just two weeks, four University of North Carolina schools have sent students home. UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, and UNC-Charlotte have all gone online. The incompetence of … Continue reading “In Reopening, UNC Leaders Failed Their Students”

Financial Warning Signs at NC Colleges Expose Existing Problems

Aug 31, 2020 · · No Comments on Financial Warning Signs at NC Colleges Expose Existing Problems

Amid COVID-19, nearly every college—whether a community college or a four-year institution—is facing an unusually tight budget this year. As the economy takes a hard hit, key sources of higher education funding, such as donor grants and government aid, are likely to be affected. But for many institutions, the most crucial sources of funding are … Continue reading “Financial Warning Signs at NC Colleges Expose Existing Problems”

Mental Health and the Professoriate During the Pandemic

Aug 24, 2020 · · No Comments on Mental Health and the Professoriate During the Pandemic

Remember the stereotype of the lazy college professor living an almost stress-free life while enjoying tenure, virtually a sinecure, often supported by taxpayer dollars? Tomes and articles identifying examples of this professor abound. Along with this job protection comes the opportunity to impose political correctness with impunity. Try telling that story to true contrarians. For … Continue reading “Mental Health and the Professoriate During the Pandemic”

UNC Will Not Require the SAT Next Year

Aug 17, 2020 · · No Comments on UNC Will Not Require the SAT Next Year

On July 23, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to temporarily waive the SAT or ACT requirement for college applicants. The vote came after UNC administrators proposed that an “emergency temporary waiver” be approved so that students who are unable to take the test due to cancellations are not negatively impacted in … Continue reading “UNC Will Not Require the SAT Next Year”

America Needs a GED Equivalent for a College Degree

Aug 14, 2020 · · No Comments on America Needs a GED Equivalent for a College Degree

As higher education undergoes dramatic changes thanks to the coronavirus, reformers should aim higher than expanding online education. Now is a propitious time to end the dominance of accreditation agencies in higher ed and create a GED-like equivalency exam for a college degree. Many students want a traditional college life: living on campus for four … Continue reading “America Needs a GED Equivalent for a College Degree”