The Transfer Problem: The Case for Private Colleges

In November, the Edvance Foundation released a report titled, “Strengthening the Transfer Pathway,” that identified opportunities for private colleges and universities to accept a much more robust stream of transfer students. College Transfer Pathway is Full of Potholes Among the findings, the report noted that the transfer pathway is full of potholes. The directional signage…

A Message to Our Students on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Howard Bunsis sends the following message to his students at Eastern Michigan University to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is worth sharing with all of our students: As you know, there are no classes Monday, due to the Martin Luther King holiday.  Given the events in our country over the last year, the celebration…

Contributions from Higher Ed to the Presidential Candidates

These are the contributions from higher educational institutions and individuals employed by them to the presidential candidates up to October 31, 2015. The totals include contributions from public and private, as well as non-profit and for-profit, institutions. Typically, for-profit institutions have been among the “industries” that have spent the most on lobbying, but thus far…

Athletics over Academics

This is an op-ed contributed to The News Record, the student newspaper at the University of Cincinnati, by Stephanie Spanja, director of research at the University of Cincinnati chapter of the American Association of University Professors. _________________________ Even though universities try to make the world a better place through research and education, money still makes…

Progressives and Rural America

Writing for In These Times, Lauren Gurley has attempted to explain “Why the Left Isn’t Talking about Rural American Poverty.” Here is how Gurley frames her discussion: “Within the popular American conscience—arguably a close reflection of the mainstream media—there are two favored focal points for discussing the problem of poverty. The first is within the…

Stefan Collini: “Who Are the Spongers Now?”

Stefan Collini, Professor of Intellectual History and English Literature at Cambridge and author of the important book What Are Universities For?, has a wonderful review article in the London Review of Books responding to the Conservative British government’s proposal to establish a Teaching Excellence Framework.  Responding specifically to a new Green Paper written by Jo…