President Biden recently announced a controversial, half-trillion-dollar student-loan-forgiveness scheme in which his administration would use a minor provision of the post-9/11 HEROES Act to excuse student borrowers from repaying roughly … Continue reading “After Student-Loan Forgiveness, Mandatory Credentialing Has to Go”
Given the enormity of the public and private investment in US higher education, of course we should evaluate its effectiveness. But, how? It is claimed that over 200 higher education … Continue reading “Are College Exit Exams a Valid Measure of Learning? It’s Complicated”
The need for change in the visual arts may offer a way to fix two of the many fundamental problems afflicting American liberal arts education in general. These are the … Continue reading “Blowing the Boiler of American Education”
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 … Continue reading “The Scuba Model of Higher Education”
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 … Continue reading “Regional Colleges Can Compete by Emphasizing Choosing the Right Major”
Even though experts believe college is still worth the cost, employers question the value to their businesses. Many believe college degrees do not provide graduates with the skills needed in today’s workplace. … Continue reading “To Close the Skills Gap, Create Industry-Vetted Certificate Programs for Students”
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part essay; part I can be read here. The previous essay dealt with the moral decline of the student body in higher … Continue reading “Leaving the Blight of Higher Education: Part II–Farewell, Faculty”
“Reform” is an appealing word, suggesting change intended for the better. It is frequently used in discussions of higher education. Critics, especially conservative ones, point out visible cracks in the … Continue reading “Is Academic Reform for Insiders Only?”
Students are enrolling in coding “boot camps” at record rates, with the number of graduates increasing from about 2,200 in 2013 to an estimated 23,000 in 2017. However, the booming … Continue reading “The Uncertain Future of Coding Boot Camps”
Earlier this month, the Triangle Business Journal revealed that graduates from North Carolina’s Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) are lagging their peers in terms of median salary after graduation. … Continue reading “Closing the Gap at North Carolina’s Historically Black Universities”