ACUHO-I News Blog

Good morning! On Inside HigherEd today, Retention with smartphones; major happiness in and out of college and “Politics or Civility?” (Are these necessarily mutually exclusive? That’s a pity.)

POLITICS OR CIVILITY? New sociology research suggests that nonpolitical campus characteristics may influence whether conservative students thrive with or feel intimidated by faculty at overwhelmingly liberal institutions.

WHO’S ON FIRST? U.S. investigates gender equity complaint that conference policy of having women’s basketball teams always play first in doubleheaders make them seem like “warm-up” act for men.

THE SATISFACTION GAP: Sociologists consider why their graduates appreciate the major in college, but don’t when they are a few years out.

TAKE ME AWAY, COUNTRY ROADS: West Virginia’s universities offer a case study in internationalizing largely from scratch.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? Georgia Gwinnett has boosted retention by giving its faculty smartphones and encouraging students to call them.

Greetings, blog readers! Today, Inside HigherEd looks at the potential for sexual orientation questions on the Common Application and gay and lesbian college presidents form their own organization…among other news, of course.

HUNGRY FOR JOBS: Do law schools need a hunger strike to push them to be more forthright with would-be students about the tight employment market?

BETTOR GRADES: A new company offers cash payouts to students who wager that they will earn uncharacteristically good marks, but some academic officials worry about the unintended consequences.

ASKING MORE THAN MALE OR FEMALE: Common Application considers adding voluntary questions about sexual orientation and gender identity.

HAS THE CONVERSATION CHANGED? Did a brutal week for for-profit colleges alter the political landscape for the sector?

OUT PRESIDENTS: Gay and lesbian college leaders gather for first time — and form a new organization for professional development and advocacy:

Happy Monday, blog readers! I’m sorry the news is late today, but you know what they say about late vs. never? Hopefully it’s true, too.

CONGRESS’S ‘SECRET SHOPPER’: Government Accountability Office uncovers fraud and deception in for-profit colleges’ recruiting practices.

PRIVATIZED PATHWAYS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS: Universities increasingly turn to for-profit companies to offer comprehensive first-year programs — including academic courses — to students from abroad.

WASHED UP: Google Wave was supposed to be the most revolutionary Web 2.0 tool yet for higher ed. This week, Google pulled the plug. What happened?

CALIFORNIA DREAMER: Christopher Edley has a vision for bringing an elite university into the world of online bachelor’s degrees. Is he building a new financial base or putting the faculty role at risk?

NCAA GRADES COACHES: Organization now tracking how well teams’ athletes perform in classroom under specific leaders.

Well, not really. However, August and September are the months in which the student housing profession appears regularly in the news. It would be nice if housing pros could feel the warm glow of attention, but unfortunately, the press coverage coincides with one of the busiest times of year. So here’s a quick rundown of what’s been in the news lately. Read–or skim–as you have time.

“Variations on a Theme,” Joanna Nikas. New York Times, July 2010.
A photo essay on unusual theme houses at colleges and universities.

“Earned Housing,” New York Times, July 2010.
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, assigns upperclass student housing based on students’ behavior the previous year. Students with the best behavior, campus involvement and GPAs choose first. This photo essay documents the process.

“Failure to Communicate,” Abigail Sullivan Moore, July 15, 2010.
Roommates have long been forced to work out conflicts of interests and schedules. But housing officials feel students are less willing, or able, to work out problems themselves. Students are more likely to text each other rather than talk; more likely to text other people than each other, or they lean on their parents or R.A. to resolve relatively simple conflicts. There’s an accompanying blog post at the Learning Network, the NYT education blog.

“Overbooked, University Struggles to Find Room,” Jacques Steinberg, August 3, 2010.
The University of Iowa is hardly alone with this problem. More students will be arriving on campus than they estimated, and so lounges, apartment buildings and other “extra” spaces are being utilized.

This week, Inside HigherEd revisits a story they featured earlier (and we featured it here too), about a residence hall named after a notable alumni…and Klan member. The University of Texas has decided to change the name. Also, the line between academic freedom and separation of church and state; studying abroad may be good for the soul, and it’s definitely good for GPAs and what happens when you give away too much money.

REMOVING AN HONOR: Should campus buildings feature names of Klan leaders? Professor’s research spurs U. of Texas to change a name, but it’s not the only university that might face the question.

AN ERROR WITH CONSEQUENCES: Birmingham-Southern finds it was awarding millions more in extra aid for years — and tries to recover through layoffs and deep cuts.

ACADEMIC OUTCOMES OF STUDY ABROAD: As emphasis on assessing education abroad increases, one system-wide study finds it’s associated with higher GPAs and graduation rates upon return.

TEACHING OR PREACHING? Controversy at Illinois involves academic freedom, gay rights, adjunct rights and separation of church and state. Where some see issues as black and white, others see a lot of gray.

A MOVING GOALPOST: NCAA aims to adjust measure it uses to judge academic progress of teams’ athletes after concluding that it does not predict graduation as accurately as once thought.

Monday is welcoming you, even if you don’t feel similarly! Get into the week with news from Inside HigherEd. Among our stories: accelerated degrees at community colleges and the fate of Dubai-based operations.

THROWING IN THE TOWEL: Having attracted far fewer students than expected, Michigan State shuts down undergraduate programs in Dubai. Is the bubble bursting?

FOLLOW THE MONEY: Delta Cost Project’s newly released database will allow anyone to see where individual colleges get revenue and where it goes.

PICKING UP THE PACE: Many community colleges are embracing call to decrease time to degree completion by starting accelerated programs.

HOW TO TEST WRITING: College Board revamps tests used by many colleges to place students in or exempt them from composition courses. Will a new, different kind of essay win over the critics?

AVATARS TO TEACH THE TEACHERS: U. of Central Florida research team says it has built a virtual training ground that could improve teacher preparation and retention.

It’s a short work week in the U.S., as many of us had the luxury of a Monday off to recover from Independence Day celebrations. That’s why your news from Inside HigherEd is a day late…but just as informative!

PAMPERING OR PRIORITY? George Washington U. drops maid service for freshmen, drawing some student complaints. But other colleges cling to the practice, even in tough times.

NEW VENUE FOR ANTI-BIAS DEBATE: Supreme Court decision shifts the conflict over discrimination by religious student groups from the courts to the campuses.

ALL EYES ON INDIA: Proposed legislation would provide a clear legal framework for foreign institutions to offer degrees, but the terms might deter otherwise interested universities.

STEP TOO FAR ON TEXTBOOK COSTS? Bill passed by Pennsylvania Senate decried as attack on academic freedom for requiring professors to select “least expensive, educationally sound” option.

TEMPERING TUITION HIKES: Private colleges hold increases to 4.5 percent, falling again below pre-recession averages. But rates still exceed inflation.

This week at Inside HigherEd, catching plagiarism right from the start, the fraught issue of for-profit colleges, and NYU-Abu Dhabi starts classes.

‘BAD APPLES’ OR SOMETHING MORE? As setting of scrutiny of for-profit colleges shifts from executive branch to Congress, the rhetoric suggests a more systemic challenge to the fast-growing institutions.

‘THE WORLD’S HONORS COLLEGE?’ NYU Abu Dhabi admits a standout first class, as unprecedented experiment in student and faculty mobility gets underway.

FINDING APPLICANTS WHO PLAGIARIZE: Turnitin, dominant player in detection software, starts to sign up colleges to screen application essays. Some admissions officials welcome the help, but others are skeptical.

ADJUNCTS AND RETENTION RATES: Study finds freshmen who get more instruction from those off the tenure track are less likely than peers to return as sophomores, but the impact is different for full-time instructors.

STANDARDIZATION AND SAVINGS: Rio Salado College has managed to halve the amount it spends on textbooks without ditching the wood pulp.

Hello blog-readers! Less than one week before conference, so read up on the news so you’re informed on the goings-on in the higher ed world. This week, how young is too young for a college student; whether students are prepared for the jobs of the future, and educational equity.

TOO YOUNG FOR COLLEGE? A Florida community college faces a federal probe for refusing to admit a 13-year-old; other community colleges are less worried about the age issue.

A JOBS MISMATCH: Analysis suggests higher education is way behind at training students for the careers that will see growth in the next decade.

IRVINE RESPONDS TO HECKLING INCIDENT: University finds that disruptions of Israeli ambassador’s speech were planned by Muslim Student Union and moves to suspend it from being recognized organization.

DISARMING BIG-TIME SPORTS SPENDING: Among other suggestions, college sports watchdog group says NCAA should distribute some funds based on teams’ academic performance.

STRIVING FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY: Low-income students have gained little ground in access to competitive colleges, researchers find, arguing for new (and tried and true) approaches to easing stratification.

This week at Inside HigherEd, summer classes are hot and European institutions are opening outposts in the United States…and more.

SCHOOL’S (NOT) OUT FOR SUMMER: As summer sessions start up, public colleges report more students signing up for classes.

DEBT HUNTERS: In cash-strapped times, universities employ aggressive tactics to collect unpaid parking tickets sometimes issued years before.

CALIFORNIA’S DEAL WITH KAPLAN: Agreement gives displaced community college students option of taking courses online with for-profit university; critics see state neglecting its role.

ENTERING THE U.S. MARKET: European business schools are planting their flags on American soil.

CREDIT FOR TEACHING: Sociology association will use peer review for innovative classroom ideas — to promote their use, and to encourage real consideration in tenure and promotions.

This week on Inside HigherEd, a tough professor is removed from her post and her students’ grades are raised; the fallout from a “colorful” comment at Cornell, and an upcoming summit on community colleges, among other stories.

WHO REALLY FAILED? Louisiana State U. removes a tough grader from her course mid-semester, and raises the grades of her students. Faculty leaders see a betrayal of values and due process.

CLOSING ARGUMENT: Binghamton president plays down basketball scandal, foreseeing minor NCAA trouble and accusing SUNY system of overreaching. Critics say she’s missed the larger point.

A STRATEGIC LEAP ONLINE : Middlebury’s new language instruction venture, in partnership with a for-profit company, is turning a lot of heads. Not all of them are nodding.

AFTERMATH OF AN UGLY COMMENT: Two graduate students at Cornell say one of their professors called them “black bitches” — and many wonder why it’s taken so long for an open discussion of the incident.

RETOOLING REMEDIATION: Six states enter project to reform developmental education at community colleges by altering state policy on funding formulas and course rules.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SUMMIT: As White House plans fall gathering on community colleges, educators and lobbyists offer advice for what should be on the agenda.

Happy Monday, folks! At Inside HigherEd this week, there’s debate on providing the iPad for students, bilingual classes and other news.

IPADS ON CAMPUS: Their arrival sparks a debate among campus CIOs over whether colleges should start giving out Apple’s much-ballyhooed computing tablet to students.

BILINGUAL (HIGHER) ED: Two private universities — one in Puerto Rico and one in Colorado — collaborate to create growing for-profit arm in Florida, offering bachelor’s degrees in which every course is in Spanish and English.

TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT: PAY UP: Citing ethical concerns, some universities prohibit faculty from taking royalties for textbooks they require students to buy.

WHEN PROFESSORS GET THEIR POLITICS: Study finds that academics generally lean one way or another early in life, potentially bolstering theory that self-selection explains the large numbers of liberals in higher ed.

DISRESPECTING WHOM? Should a president order a scholar to shift from teaching one course a year to a 4-4 load? Does it matter if the professor is an icon of black literature? Is it suspicious if he criticized the selection of the president?

This week at Inside HigherEd, tuition discounting topped out in 2008,students’ progress at for-profit institutions, and a new for-profit school for African-Americans.

SLASHING PRICES: Average tuition discounting by private colleges hit a record high of 42 percent in 2008, and much of the help for students was not based on financial need.

HOW STUDENTS FARE AT FOR-PROFITS: Company-sponsored study based on federal data compares sector favorably with community colleges — but fails to persuade student aid experts.

FOR-PROFIT, FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS? New institution — launched with financial backing from early investors in Capella — will focus on black students. Who will benefit?

PREPAID BAILOUTS PRESENT DILEMMA: College savings plan participants may get state-sponsored rescue at the expense of low-income families, researchers say:

THE HUMAN ELEMENT: A community college professor says he has built a learning management system with a personal touch that could solve one of distance education’s most persistent problems.

This week at Inside HigherEd, a B.A. that takes three years to earn; Virginia’s governor issues an order protecting non-discrimination policies, and other news.

FAULT LINES: Budget cuts are taking their toll on City College of San Francisco, where limited course offerings bar student access and unfilled vacancies leave jobs undone.

REVERSAL IN VIRGINIA ON ANTI-GAY BIAS: Governor issues order protecting colleges’ nondiscrimination policies from demands by attorney general that they be changed.

EXPRESS LANE TO A B.A.: A year after politicians and pundits started talking about three-year degrees, more colleges are starting programs or considering them.

CONTINENTAL PERSPECTIVES: College leaders in the U.S. urged to enhance unity of North American higher ed on same day European academics issue study on how unified their institutions have become.

NEW BATTLEGROUND FOR PUBLISHERS: With demand for online assessment and e-tutoring tools growing, good textbooks alone are no longer enough to win over professors.

This week on Inside HigherEd, reaching out to gay applicants and drop-out insurance for parents of little faith, among other stories.

PROTESTERS RECEIVE COY EMBRACE: March 4 demonstrations across California and nation will call for greater higher ed support, but college leaders give tepid public endorsement to volatile grass roots movement.

HIGHLIGHTING E-READERS: Colleges release analyses of major experiments with Kindles — and find students use less paper with the devices, but want better note-taking ability.

OUTREACH TO GAY APPLICANTS: Like many colleges, Penn has undergrads help woo admitted students with similar interests or ethnic backgrounds. Now the university is recruiting based on sexual orientation too.

FAMILY VALUES AND THE NCAA: Amid criticism from gay rights advocates, athletic association pulls advertisements from pro-family group that sparked Super Bowl controversy.

DROP-OUT INSURANCE: Is the market to assure parents of tuition refunds about to take off?