Education Commons^™

Private Colleges Can Partner To Solve Issues., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One of the discussions around accessibility, cost, and quality in higher education revolves about private colleges and universities. Are they for rich kids only? Do they graduate students at a higher rate than do public institutions? Are they more efficient at managing their money? Can they save taxpayers money? And, more importantly, is there a place for them in the future of higher education? These and other questions have been around for a while and a study recently published on these issues provides us with some of the answers.

These and other questions are particularly relevant, especially in states that …

Campuses And The Freedom Of Speech Trap., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In the last few weeks we have heard about an increasing number of incidents on campuses across the nation where politically conservative speakers have been prevented from talking. From Middlebury College in Vermont to the University of California at Berkeley, these cases have something in common: They are giving higher education a bad name.

Some op-ed pieces by liberal authors have criticized these incidents on the basis that they represent a violation of the basic principle of free speech, which is seen as a liberal principle.

Study: Students Often Perceived Differently By Race., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In past columns, I have reported on more than one study that shows that expectations for “brilliance” for women in higher education were much higher than that for males. For example, when a research paper is co-authored by a male and a female the assumption by many is that the male did “the real work.”

Now comes a study showing that there is a similar bias when it comes to students – only this time the differences are based on race.

Moody’S Paints Grim Picture For Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Predicting one’s own future is an uncertain business.

But when institutions known for their prognosticating

skills predict your future, you might

want to listen. This lesson is one that America’s

institutions of higher education seem to be failing.

After looking at the budget proposal by the

Trump administration, Moody’s Investors Service

painted a grim financial future for the nation’s

colleges and universities. According to their

analysis, Trump’s budget proposal to slash federal

research funding and end financial support

for the arts and humanities would irreparably

harm institutions that rely on those government

dollars.

College Presidents Worry About Higher Ed’S Future, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One of the major responsibilities of college and university leaders is to look into the future and act accordingly. They are supposed to see things coming, whether good or bad. That is why they are assumed to be good thermometers about the prospects for higher education.

Now a new survey gives us a glimpse about how they see the present and the future. Published just a few weeks ago, the study, titled “2017Survey of College and University Presidents,” shows the level of concern by U.S. higher education presidents about the future of their institutions. According to the survey, only six …

Does Unconscious Bias Effect Higher Ed Hiring?, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Nobody wants to be called a racist or a misogynist. Most people think that they are not. However, we are constantly making decisions that are influenced by unconscious biases.

Unconscious biases are defined as social stereo- types that are formed about certain groups of people by individuals from outside their own conscious awareness. Psychologists agree that everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and that these biases stem from one’s tenden- cy to organize social worlds by categorizing.

Teaching Must Become Engaging To Be Effective., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

We live in a time of intense scrutiny as to the

effectiveness of instruction in higher education.

Questions are being asked of college and university

administrators about the retention and graduation

rates of their students. In fact, some states have tied

funding of public institutions to this data. Others

are asking how well we are teaching students to get

that well-paid job after graduation.

It is interesting that the fundamental question

of how well we are teaching our students is rarely

answered. One reason for this hesitation is that we

are still struggling with just how to measure teaching

effectiveness …

Female Administrators Face Discrimination In Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In past articles of this column we have reported

data that show that women in general find more

barriers than their male counterparts in getting

into academic careers. Further, female college professors

earn on average 10 percent less in salaries

than their male colleagues.

If you are a woman in academia and aspire to

an administrative job in order to substantially

improve your earnings and make them more in

par with the males around you, you should think

twice.

Diversity More Than Race, Gender In Higher Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Most people when talking about diversity think

of matters revolving around race and gender, and

while those are obvious and important topics, the

fact of the matter is that the definition of diversity

is much larger.

Today diversity is seen in two dimensions.

The first one is what is called inherent diversity,

the diversity that is beyond people’s control.

Obviously, these issues include race and gender,

but also include national origin, age, sexual orientation,

disability, religious affiliation and socioeconomic

status. Certainly, you can change your

religious affiliation or socioeconomic status over

time, but being raised in a particular religion or …

Not All Presidential Spouses Are Created Equal., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One of the individuals who is usually around on campuses but many times is almost “invisible” is the president’s partner. Sometimes they take on major roles for social functions, fundraising, and public relations; others are quite inconspicuous. In some cases, they even get financial compensation for their work. In others, they have to make sacrifices for the wellbeing of their partners.

A new study helps to clarify the role of presidential partners and how they feel about their roles. “The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions,” published by the University of Minnesota, provides a good understanding.

There Is Proof Diversity Makes Colleges Better., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Since the time of the Civil Rights movement the

issue of diversity has been widely discussed in academia.

First it was considered that institutions of

higher education should increase the participation of

minorities of both faculty and students as a matter of

social justice.

Then came the legal aspect of increasing diversity

when the concept of affirmative action was introduced

in the early 1960s. After President John F. Kennedy

issued an executive order in 1961 that required not to

“discriminate against any employee or applicant for

employment because of race, creed, color, or national

origin" and "take affirmative action to …

Department Chairs Play Key Role In Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In higher education, it has always been said

that the position of departmental chair is one of

the most difficult jobs. Chairs usually take over

the responsibility of managing the affairs of

their academic units without previous in-depth

preparation for the job and do so in a difficult

position where they have to implement policies

and practices from the college and university’s

administration, while having to still deal with

their colleagues on a daily basis.

On top of that they tend to return to the faculty

as another foot soldier after their stint as chair,

having to live with the …

Freedom Of The Press In Danger On Campuses., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Anybody who has attended college is familiar with

student-run media. From newspapers to radio to even

TV stations, these outlets are oftentimes the main sources

of information to the college community.

They vary in quality and content, with some even

carrying out investigative reporting of their own institutions

and taking critical stances about policies and practices

that, while may seem inconsequential to outsiders,

are crucial to education.

College Enrollments Becoming Problematic., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Enrollment has become the main focus of attention for

higher education administrators. For private institutions

enrollment is the major source of their funding. And due

to diminished support from states, it has also become

the major source of financial support for most public

colleges and universities. This dependence on tuition

wasn’t always so great for public institutions, but is the

result of a process that has been called the privatization

of public higher education.

Two reports that got little attention when published

recently were the Western Interstate Commission on

Higher Education, known as Wiche. This group released

its new projections …

Student Debt Disproportionally Affects Blacks., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

College student debt, now topping one trillion

dollars, is one of the most severe issues affecting

higher education. But if that amount (higher than

Americans’ combined credit card debt) sounds scandalous,

the problem is compounded by the fact that

it is affecting disproportionally people of color.

In a report published by the Brookings Institute

last October titled “Black-white disparity in student

loan debt more than triples after graduation,” its

authors found that by the moment they earn their bachelor’s

degrees, black college graduates owe $7,400

more on average than their white peers. And the

problem becomes even more acute over …

Higher Ed Needs New Forms Of Marketing., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In this day and age of crises – financial, enrollment,

even scandal – among institutions of higher education,

image “management” has become a tool to help

some institutions stay afloat. Countless colleges and

universities have resorted to spending money on

glossy brochures, billboards and even on expensive

TV airtime.

The images they portray are usually one of happy

and attractive students having fun on campus, enjoying

athletic events and amenities that used to be more

likely to be found at country clubs than colleges. The

quality of education is almost an afterthought. The

name of the institution is being sold …

If You Think Education Is Expensive, Try Ignorance., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

This is the 100th column of this series. During

the two years during which this column has been

published uninterruptedly on a weekly basis, a

common question I received is why do I defend

higher education?

I remember when I decided to become a scientist.

The day was October 5, 1957. I was a 6-year-old kid

living in Venezuela. The big headline in the newspaper

that day was that the Soviets had launched

an artificial satellite named Sputnik. I was amazed.

I asked my father all kinds of questions about it,

but he could not tell me much more than …

Viewing Obama’S Legacy In Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

For eight years as president, Barack Obama showed

an unusual interest in reforming higher education

when compared with any other U.S. president in history.

Most concerned themselves with primary and

secondary education. The only possible exception is

Abraham Lincoln, under whose administration the

land grant university system was created.

One reason for his interest in higher education may

be because Obama himself once taught at the law school

of the University of Chicago. Another may be that, in

retrospect, Obama has always been a great admirer of

Lincoln, mirroring his stances on many issues.

Higher Ed Sees Decline In Language Studies., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Despite much talk about the importance of globalization,

the very places where most people in

the U.S. learn foreign languages – colleges and universities

– are offering fewer and fewer courses in

them. In a report published last year by the Modern

Languages Association (MLA), statistics show that

for the first time since 1995 we are seeing a drop

in enrollment in courses in all major European languages,

including Spanish. And the drop is significant:

6.7 percent overall since 2009 after increasing

steadily since 1995.

Spanish, the most studied language in colleges

and universities (more than all other languages

combined), …

The Line Between Free Speech And Hate Speech., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

With the rise of incidents of bigotry on U.S. campuses

after the November elections, a question has

come up. How can we differentiate between free

and hate speech and what can we do about the latter?

The answer is complex, but there is a solution

to the problem.

At the federal level – and contrary to popular

belief – free speech is not absolute. The Supreme

Court has ruled many times setting limits on

speech, from child pornography cases, to deceptive

advertisement to specific threats of violence. The

fine line comes when dealing with espousing ideologies,

like the ones held …

Anti-Intellectualism Casts Shadow Over Higher Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

In addition to all of the issues affecting higher education,

like the lack of appropriate funding, diminishing

enrollments, insularity, and the like, now it is

time to recognize the biggest problem of all – anti-intellectualism.

Anti-intellectualism is defined as a negative attitude

toward intellectual pursuits, whether in the

form of education or scholarly activities and toward

their practitioners, such as college professors and

intellectuals in general.

The Consequences Of The Election For Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

“So, now what?” That is the question some people are asking when it comes to higher education after one of the longest and most contentious presidential elections in American history. The question comes up not only because of the results, but also because higher education is facing one of its most grave situations in its history due to, among other things, decreasing funding, exorbitant student debt and bad press.

So what can we expect in the months and years to come based on the platform and statements issued by the leaders of the upcoming administration? Here is a sample.

Higher Education Losing Ground In Public Opinion., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Student Evaluations Of Instructors May Be Flawed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

For years, one of the most standard practices in

higher education has been what’s called “student

evaluation of teaching,” also known by its acronym

SET. This is a process that is carried out in just about

every college and university course every semester or

term. They are used essentially to measure how effective

a teacher is by surveying student satisfaction.

And the results of these surveys are used to make

many important decisions, such as whether or not

faculty members should be granted tenure – or even

keep their jobs.

A new study, however, is challenging the conventional

wisdom that …

College Libraries Eye Tradition In Era Of Change., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One could argue that universities originated

from places like the Library of Alexandria, established

23 centuries ago in Egypt. Libraries like

the one in Alexandria attracted the most talented

intellectuals.

They contained not only a large number of

papyrus scrolls but also served as botanical gardens,

collections of art and places of residence

for scholars.

When modern universities were built, libraries

occupied a distinctive place where students and

faculty went on an almost daily basis to seek the

information they needed for their studies. But

over the last few decades their role has transformed

and lessened. One reason for this …

What Democrats Have Planned For Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

The Democrats have made a number of concrete

promises regarding higher education if they win

the presidential elections. They promise concerted

actions against sexual assaults on campuses that

include comprehensive support for survivors, fair

judicial processes that prevent the use of cultural

biases against females as “inciters,” and increased

prevention efforts through education programs.

The Clinton campaign also promises support for

net neutrality, the idea that Internet service providers

should enable access to all content and applications

regardless of the source without favoring or blocking

particular products or websites. The Democratic plan

also proposes expanding availability of fiber-optic

broadband Internet …

How Higher Ed Will Fare Under Gop President., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Last week we reported that when it comes to

higher education, the Republican platform for this

election was a single paragraph with no real details

of what they propose to do for the next four years.

Given that, the only thing we can do to discern what

their policies will be for the sector is to analyze their

speeches and past policies and stances.

For example, during their Cleveland convention

Republican leaders propose to decouple accreditation

from federal financial aid. That means that a lot

of colleges and universities will feel no pressure to

maintain a minimum of standards and …

What The Candidates Promise For Higher Ed, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

With the general elections just one month away it is

time to look at what the candidates for president of the

United States and their party platforms offer in terms of

higher education. Let’s start with the Republican party.

Donald Trump has not said much on the issue and his

party platform on higher education is confined to one

paragraph. “When student loan debt exceeds the nation’s

credit card debt, we must recognize that our higher education

system is on an unsustainable path. The Republican

Party supports an education system that provides families

with greater transparency and more information so …

What The Death Of Moocs Has Taught Us., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One of the loudest hypes in the history of higher

education has been all the chat about MOOCs.

The idea of Massive Open Online Courses was

launched five years ago when Stanford University

announced that by using Internet-based technologies

they would be able to offer college classes

for free.

Imagine, a world-class university offering a free

education from the comfort of your home, one that

didn’t require any admission tests or high school

transcripts. The possibilities were so exciting that

immediately there was talk about the final revolution

in higher education – the end of colleges and

universities as we …

Learning From Australia’S Funding Of Higher Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

One of the most controversial issues in higher education today is its cost, particularly for the students who end up carrying the burden of heavy college loan debt. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the total U.S student loan debt was $1.26 trillion in 2016, which is more than the total credit card debt in the country.