These campus leaders share their opinions on the latest trends and expertise on a range of higher ed subjects, from innovation and engagement to sports and politics.
More often than not, a university president’s inauguration prompts committees to narrowly focus on ways to spotlight the new leader and their accomplishments. Yet organizers often forget about the community this person will lead. The ceremony, of course, represents the president’s assumption of office. But it also signifies an opportunity to honor the community’s past […]
My daughter took a leave of absence to spend 14 months working with a nongovernmental organization in Guatemala. As her dad, I'm proud this experience helped her grow. As a president, I wonder how we might better develop first-year experiences.
While a college’s general education curriculum touches every student, officials may go many years without touching those requirements in any significant way. In fact, some institutions are still using general ed programs developed between 20 and 30 years ago, before the digital revolution transformed the lives of students. “There’s a sense of urgency in addressing some […]
Every week at the University of Washington in Seattle, the registrar’s office staff comes across at least three fraudulent diplomas. Every month, they uncover about two fraudulent transcripts. “And these are just the ones we see,” says Helen Garrett, registrar and chief officer for enrollment information services. “Our student database has not been hacked and […]
Waitlists for not-quite accepted students have long been used by colleges, but more institutions—both public and private—are dabbling in a different kind of delayed entry. Conditional admissions, which may require academic or English language counseling, give less-prepared students a chance to succeed. "A number of accountability mechanisms can discourage colleges from taking chances on students […]
More than half of the 40,000 students at California State University, Northridge, are first-generation. Three thousand are international. And every one of them belongs, says Paul Schantz, director of web and technology services in the Division of Student Affairs for CSUN. “We want students to feel like CSUN is their home,” Schantz says. “And if […]
What is the biggest challenge administrators have fostering trusting relationships between students and faculty? What’s the most innovative way you’ve seen a college tackle this challenge? “Engaging in communication is the foundation of any trusting relationship, yet this is often difficult for students and faculty to do. There are generational gaps and technology changes constantly. […]
You think there's not enough sun in cold, dark Maine to generate solar power? You say solar panels belong in the deserts of the Great Southwest? Actually, solar panels operate more efficiently in cooler weather, and Maine gets more sun than Germany, known worldwide as a solar powerhouse. Five New England colleges have teamed up […]
