For-profit, for
shame
Spruill, Anna Z. and Brassfield all believe they were victims of fraud, at
worst, and at the least, deceived. What none of them know is that there is
a state commission charged with overseeing and regulating Oregon’s
for-profit private colleges. Administrators at the Oregon Higher Education
Coordinating Commission (HECC) say they are the “go to” agency for
complaints against for-profit colleges, and will respond to complaints with
investigations.
Portland Tribune, Aug. 20, 2015
Genetically
inclined to learn
A study released today has found that an individual’s genetic makeup
can have a direct effect on the level of education achieved by that
individual, the first time that researchers have found such a relationship.
And while the impact is found to be relatively small compared to other
external factors, the researchers say it's still significant enough to
consider.
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 20, 2015
Not just
research
It’s no secret that science courses, particularly at the first- and second-year
levels, can be dry. The classes are big, the content is wide but typically
shallow, and professors often resort to lectures. There’s a lot of talk
among science educators about how to make these courses more interesting,
to attract students and retain them as majors, but much of the conversation
thus far has focused on improving individual faculty members’ teaching. And
that’s not a bad thing: one innovative teacher in a department is better
than none. But that approach relies more on a ripple effect than seeking to
change the tide. And many faculty members at research universities report
that they have a tough time getting higher-ups' attention for anything but
research and securing grant money, making teaching a decidedly lower
priority.
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 20, 2015
Defining
college affordability
What does "affordable" even mean? And if politicians, policy
makers and the public don't have a shared understanding of what families
should pay for college, can we really expect them to develop and agree on
what to do about the problem? Officials at Lumina Foundation don't think
so, which is why they are today offering up a simple (and, they admit,
somewhat simplistic) framework for concretely defining what is
reasonable for the typical college student and her/his family to pay for
college.
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 19, 2015
'Presenting
while black'
There’s a rich of body of research suggesting that higher education can be
inhospitable to faculty members of color. But little has been written about
“performance” demands on black faculty members at academic conferences or
meetings — what they are and how they might contribute to overall
concerns about climate.
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 19, 2015
'Yes means yes'
orientation
As college campuses across the country adapt to a culture — and
legislation — calling for affirmative consent and “yes means yes”
policies, freshmen orientations are often just one touch point for a larger
conversation about sexual misconduct policies across campuses. Many
colleges are adding programming or are revising past education on sexual
assault prevention to focus on teaching the ideas behind affirmative
consent, although some institutions already had relevant programs in place.
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 19, 2015
About half of
students pass state’s new, tougher tests
Education officials said Monday they are pleased that about half of the
state’s students passed a new, tougher set of statewide tests last spring,
even though the passage rates are much lower than on the state’s old tests
and the high number of students who opted out could affect federal funding
in the future.
The Seattle Times, Aug. 17, 2015
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