A Modest Proposal for Fixing the College Modern Language Requirement

Jan 15, 2021 · · No Comments on A Modest Proposal for Fixing the College Modern Language Requirement

In her fine opinion piece for the Martin Center, Megan Zogby bemoans the “Quixotic” requirement that North Carolina college and university students take between two and four courses in a language such as Spanish, French, or German. This requirement, Zogby asserts, “appears to have no meaningful effect on the language proficiency of college graduates.” What is more, … Continue reading “A Modest Proposal for Fixing the College Modern Language Requirement”

Did You Know? UNC Schools Will Get Millions in COVID-19 Funding

Jan 7, 2021 · · No Comments on Did You Know? UNC Schools Will Get Millions in COVID-19 Funding

Last week, Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a $2.4 trillion spending package that includes $23 billion in aid for public and non-profit colleges and universities. The relief package will provide about $286 million in new Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to UNC system schools. Of that amount, almost $90 million is … Continue reading “Did You Know? UNC Schools Will Get Millions in COVID-19 Funding”

Did You Know? Chinese Government Influence at North Carolina Colleges

Dec 17, 2020 · · No Comments on Did You Know? Chinese Government Influence at North Carolina Colleges

Three universities in North Carolina host chapters of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, a group with ties to the Chinese government. According to a May article in Campus Reform, Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State all have chapters. The website of the Chinese Students & Scholars Friendship Association at NC State states that … Continue reading “Did You Know? Chinese Government Influence at North Carolina Colleges”

NC State’s Quixotic Foreign Language Requirement

Dec 14, 2020 · · No Comments on NC State’s Quixotic Foreign Language Requirement

For decades, universities have required students to fulfill a foreign language requirement. However, some research has shown that two semesters of a foreign language appears to have no meaningful effect on the language proficiency of college graduates. Putting students through language classes adds to their tuition bill, but doesn’t teach them a new skill for … Continue reading “NC State’s Quixotic Foreign Language Requirement”

Students Aren’t Learning Life Skills; Colleges Need to Teach Them

Dec 7, 2020 · · No Comments on Students Aren’t Learning Life Skills; Colleges Need to Teach Them

When students think back to their college days, they may remember a philosophy class that made them question their life or an art class they thought would be easy, but gave them the most stress that semester. However, when graduates get a job and need to set up a retirement account, apply for a credit … Continue reading “Students Aren’t Learning Life Skills; Colleges Need to Teach Them”

Did You Know? NC Subsidies for Colleges Top 5 Nationally

Dec 3, 2020 · · No Comments on Did You Know? NC Subsidies for Colleges Top 5 Nationally

North Carolina spends more on its university students than most other states. Recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System show that universities in only three other states and the District of Columbia receive more revenue per student from state appropriations than universities in North Carolina. In the UNC system, the average revenue per … Continue reading “Did You Know? NC Subsidies for Colleges Top 5 Nationally”

‘Wokeness’ Infiltrates College Music Departments

Nov 23, 2020 · · No Comments on ‘Wokeness’ Infiltrates College Music Departments

Inevitably, college music departments have succumbed to pressure to promote “social justice” and fight racism. It’s hard to see much injustice or racism in music, but that doesn’t matter to activists intent on showing that they’re in the vanguard of America’s transformation. Consider, for example, the announcement back in September by the music department at … Continue reading “‘Wokeness’ Infiltrates College Music Departments”

Heavy Is the Head that Wears the Crown

Nov 16, 2020 · · No Comments on Heavy Is the Head that Wears the Crown

Since 2015, the University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors (BOG) has endured one controversy after another, beginning with protests over decisions to close three “academic centers” for being overly political and to replace Democrat Thomas Ross as the system president with Republican Margaret Spellings. Some of the problems have been of the board’s … Continue reading “Heavy Is the Head that Wears the Crown”

Could Law School Be the Worst Higher Education Investment?

Nov 11, 2020 · · No Comments on Could Law School Be the Worst Higher Education Investment?

For decades, law school was a growth industry. Back in 1970, there were 146 law schools with an enrollment of 78,000 students; by 2013, there were 201 schools, enrolling 139,000 students. Enrollment peaked in 2010 at 147,000. (For the current year, it seems that enrollments will probably remain level with last year.) By 2015, we … Continue reading “Could Law School Be the Worst Higher Education Investment?”