1. When undergrad has to go
IHE reports that Marygrove College is doing what not many colleges before it have done: shutting down its undergraduate programs in the middle of the upcoming academic year. The college will continue to offer its graduate and professional development programs since, as its president puts it, “we had to make a hard decision and the hard decision was what educators need in the city of Detroit, and what some businesspeople need in the city of Detroit, are certificate programs and professional development programs.”
2. The potential problem with tracking student interest
An increase in the number of applications they receive is leading some colleges to give more weight to prospective student interest, commonly tracked through prospective students’ participation in such activities as campus tours, as it makes admissions decisions. The problem? As reported by The Boston Globe, “for students who don’t have the means [to visit their colleges of interest], it raises the bar for them one more time.”
3. Teaching to the test
The good news: Some schools are innovating how they teach history, taking an interdisciplinary approach to drive student engagement and knowledge retention. The bad news: Standardized tests have not caught up. This Forbes article explores how increasing competition for college admission is making a case for teaching to the test.
4. Getting accepted? That’s just the beginning
Getting into college isn’t easy, but for some students, what comes after is the hardest part. This Washington Post article offers insight into how to help students master the transition and stick around.
Recommended Reading
Degrees of Difference: Women, Men and the Value of Higher Education
Does your local library have a copy? WorldCat will tell you.
“The female advantage,” “the boy crisis” — this title explores these concepts and how American higher ed can help drive gender equity.