Presidential Opinion

David Wippman, president of Hamilton College (NY) and Glenn C. Altschuler, professor of American studies at Cornell University (NY), write: Just a few weeks ago, colleges and universities across the country anticipated a relatively normal fall semester. Now, with the Delta variant surging, confidence has given way to apprehensiveness. At many institutions, mask mandates have returned, along with fears of an escalating series of “déjà vu all over again” restrictions. These fears are understandable, especially at campuses with low vaccination rates. But this year is different. We should be able to balance safety and normalcy much more effectively, to have our cake and eat it, too.

Mary Hawkins, president of Bellevue University (NE), writes:  Transfer students are considered a new enrollment frontier for many colleges. That makes sense considering that transfer students account for around 1.3 million students enrolled in postsecondary education.

Morton O. Schapiro, President, Northwestern University writes: The students loved having classes recorded. One admitted that recordings had made it easier to sleep in and miss class, but others said that they appreciated being able to rewatch a lecture or discussion session in order to revisit points that were confusing. Another said that several of her professors had used the Zoom format to invite expert guests from all over the world to participate in classes, something that happened much less frequently when teaching was in person. Several reported that viewing professors in their living spaces — with children, partners, and pets roaming by — had made it easier in some ways to get to know them as real people.

Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University writes: One of my highest priorities is to increase the number of low-income and middle-income students getting college degrees, both at Princeton and nationally. A college education is a rocket-booster for these tremendous young people, who for too long have been underrepresented at Old Nassau and many of our peers. We need their talent on our campus and in our country!

Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universitiesm writes: It makes a great deal of sense to get students back on track after a challenging year of losses and struggle. Do we really want to make attaining a college degree more difficult for young people who are already feeling concerned about the future of their lives and our country? Putting the opportunity for an education into the hands of young people is one way of saying that we believe in their ability to make this country a better place for all. Supporting those colleges and universities with a track record for genuine care—those that offer a holistic education and cultivate the intellect, imagination, psyche and spirit—makes public policy sense.