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At a panel discussion at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities' annual meeting of presidents today, presenters made one thing clear: American culture may have changed, but their institutions' interpretation of the Bible - which views homosexuality as immoral - will not. So the discussion, as described by the panelists and members of the audience, dealt not with whether colleges should change their attitudes toward gay students, but how to deal with the controversy that breaks out when students or alumni pressure a college to change.
The notion that certificates or "badges" might displace degrees in any meaningful timeframe is incorrect. Even in developing economies, where there is truly a hunger for knowledge in any form and where the degree may not yet be as central to the evaluation of prospective employees, the wage premium from a bachelor's degree is even higher: 200 percent in China, compared with a mere 62 percent in the U.S. Degrees are definitely not disappearing; they're not even in decline.
Allegations of anti-Asian bias are likely to get renewed attention with the news that the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights is investigating a complaint by an Asian-American applicant that illegal bias resulted in his rejection by Harvard University and Princeton University. This investigation joins one that the department has been conducting for several years into Princeton University's treatment of Asian-American applicants.
Senate Republicans pushed back against President Obama's college-affordability agenda at an education-committee hearing Thursday, expressing doubts about the administration's plans to reward colleges and states that hold down tuition and maintain their higher-education budgets. "I don't believe the government's role is to pick winners and losers," said Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, explaining that he was uncomfortable "shifting the determination of affordability to Washington."
Davidson College President Carol Quillen testified Thursday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as part of a hearing on "Innovations in College Affordability." Here are excerpts from her remarks.
On Thursday, three months after Bank of America backed down from imposing a $5 monthly debit card fee in response to an online petition, Sallie Mae changed its fee policy in response to an online petition. For years, Sallie Mae had required unemployed people who could not afford their monthly payments to pay a $50-per-loan fee every three months to suspend their payments temporarily, even as interest charges mounted. Sallie Mae called this forbearance fee a "good faith deposit" - but it was neither credited to the borrower's account nor refunded.
The Ashland University Board of Trustees recently approved the lowest increase in tuition, and room and board costs on record at A.U. The board approved a 1.1 percent increase for the coming 2012-2013 academic year. It represents a $428 increase in costs and the lowest increase since records were first kept at A.U. A.U. President Dr. Fred Finks says the university's administration and board of trustees are serious about helping to make a private education more affordable for students and their families.
Burlington College has begun a national search for a new president, the college has announced. The new president will replace Jane Sanders, who stepped down in the fall after seven years in the position and is now on a one-year paid leave. Three administrators are leading the college on an interim basis. The school offers a variety of majors and a curriculum that features non-graded narrative evaluations and self-designed programs of study.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the coming disruption of the higher-ed system and asked if traditional institutions were prepared. A few college leaders gave me suggestions on how they're getting ready, while others trying to disrupt the space told me where they are finding the best opportunities. So what is the low-hanging fruit? Where are colleges most vulnerable? Where are they least at risk? Here are a few clues.
While no one here is glad to see Kodak go bankrupt, it's hardly the catastrophe many imagine - in part, surprisingly, because of Kodak. The high-skilled workers it let go over the years created a valuable labor pool for start-up companies. It also helps that Rochester has a strong higher-education sector, which has likewise been supported by Kodak. The University of Rochester became a leading research center through gifts from Kodak's founder, George Eastman, who also gave generously to the Rochester Institute of Technology. These universities have an immense impact on the regional economy.
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