Officials at Webster University in Missouri noticed a number of graduate students had stopped registering for classes. Recognizing they did not have the staff resources to provide intensive support, they formed a pilot with InsideTrack, a company that partners with colleges to create adaptive coaching options. Launched in fall 2017, the pilot included 511 students […]
One decision to be made in launching or expanding an e-textbook program is whether the office managing it should be on the business or the academic side. Here are two options. Campus store Since the retail manager negotiates the costs of digital course materials anyway, many institutions choose this administration model. Cornell University houses its […]
The headlines say it all. "Texas universities forced to trim their budgets, even with big state cuts averted." —Texas Tribune "University of Alaska budget cut by $8 million in legislative compromise" —Alaska Dispatch News Subhead: Case studies on how small ideas bloomed into noticeable savings "University of Missouri to cut 400 positions amid budget woes" —US […]
It has become increasingly difficult for some four-year institutions to meet enrollment goals for first-year students. The good news is that enrolling transfers has advantages. Transfer students generate higher average net tuition revenue than first-year students but don't create large pressures on housing. They also enroll in upper-level courses that typically have capacity. These benefits […]
A failure to gather data—not rigor or readiness—may be the biggest issue facing early college programs, believes Jason Taylor, an assistant professor of higher education at the University of Utah who has devoted his career to studying dual enrollment. "There is not a lot of empirical evidence on whether the benefits outweigh the costs," he […]
As this issue was going to press, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced intentions to reverse Obama-era guidelines on handling sexual assault cases at colleges and universities. Until such time as the guidelines are clarified, institutions should continue following established practices. A recent decision by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon granted a preliminary injunction in […]
As the term "free college" draws applicants and ever-more media attention, states, cities and colleges are learning the realities of these large-scale aid programs. In Oregon, due to an $8 million deficit in state appropriations for its $40 million Promise program, only 4 out of 5 eligible students (recent high school grads and GED holders) […]
As an expert microeconomist, William Massy approaches the challenge of reform by applying rigorous economic principles—informed by financial data and other evidence—to explain the forces at work on universities and the flaws in the academic business model. In his book Reengineering the University: How to Be Mission Centered, Market Smart, and Margin Conscious (Johns Hopkins […]
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA—Jairy Hunter's introduction to higher ed came when he failed to land a starting position on the football team at Wingate University in North Carolina. That setback led the former high school state champion to drop out only a year later and enlist in the Army. After finishing his military service, he found […]
How can colleges and universities foster connectivity and collaboration in and out of the classroom? The hot topics in higher education over the past few years have been active learning, collaborative environments, engaged students and flipped classrooms. When supported by powerful and flexible display solutions, collaborative learning helps improve both teacher and student engagement and […]
