Outside the circle of higher ed facilities managers, it's the shiny new campus buildings that get all the glory. Yet what facilities insiders know all too well is that existing buildings are in dire need of attention. Aging buildings, a recent economic downturn and pressure to invest in new construction has led to rising deferred […]
Even if an incident doesn't happen in a residence hall, RAs must know what to expect during a potential crisis on campus, and how to better help their students, says David L. Perry, president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Just as campus officials across the nation are engaged in active shooter […]
In the time since Carey Haddock was a resident assistant 10 years ago, the typical job description has expanded and the stakes are much higher. "There's definitely an increase in pressure and responsibility for RAs today," says Haddock, who now trains and supervises RAs as assistant director of housing and residence life at Salisbury University […]
Worried that faculty do not spend sufficient time teaching students, some are calling for the elimination of the longstanding system of tenure and promotion. Others suggest the creation of separate faculty tracks—such as teaching faculty, research faculty, and so on. Judith Shapiro, president of the Teagle Foundation and former president of Barnard College in New […]
Typically, an Office of Sponsored Research operates with limited staff while being taxed with an overwhelming workload of grant management activities. A handful of staff is often responsible for pre- and post-award administration, effort certification, detailed budget tracking, documenting encumbrances and expenditures, reporting and meeting federal mandates. To address these challenges, smart organizations streamline the […]
Loan default rates and an expanding focus on student success have made strong student financial literacy efforts a higher ed norm. But as students and their parents continue to grapple with paying for school, money management lessons from colleges are becoming a family affair. "Encouraging students and their families to communicate about financial responsibilities and […]
Faculty and students at Bridgewater College in Virginia complained increasingly in recent years about the unavailability of textbooks at the campus bookstore. To control inventory, the store stocked only a percentage of materials required if everyone purchased what was expected. Campus business officers also noted a rapid decline in textbook revenue and related commissions, as […]
Allegations of sex abuse, once hidden from public view at universities, are seeing the light of day at record levels. That attention leads to inevitable questions: How can a school conduct the required investigation when a complaint is made, and deal with victim concerns that schools turn a blind eye to their needs? Should it […]
It's an uncomfortable truth for colleges and universities—cheating happens. And by many accounts, it happens a lot. Although cheating isn't new, technology facilitates it and student culture more readily accepts it. Students may believe outstanding scholastic performance—achieved by whatever means necessary—paves the difficult-to-navigate path to success. Added into this mix is the popularity of online […]
A push for coed fraternities has spawned a lawsuit at Wesleyan University, while a directive from the administration at Trinity College, also in Connecticut, has so far failed to further integrate Greek organizations. Delta Kappa Epsilon, or DKE, sued Wesleyan in February after the fraternity's members were informed they would not be able to live […]
