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Full-Text Articles in Education
For Social Justice, We Need To Look In The Mirror., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
For Social Justice, We Need To Look In The Mirror., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
One of the most contentious issues in politics in general – and in higher education in particular – is political correctness.
Usually defined as the avoidance of language or actions that are seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting groups of people that have been dis- criminated against because of their gender, race, or other identifying factors.
The term is now oftentimes used in a pejorative sense, particularly in conservative circles.
What The Proposed Federal Budget Really Means., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
What The Proposed Federal Budget Really Means., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
The proposed 2018 budget by the Trump administration has been presented and now we have a clear picture of the list of programs related to higher education that will be either severely cut or totally eliminated.
Among the programs to be eliminated are the Public-Service Loan-Forgiveness program (which currently helps more than 550,000 students), Stafford Loans (offered to eligible students enrolled in accredited American institutions of higher education to help with their education) and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (a federal assistance grant for college students with the greatest need for financial aid). It also includes plans to allow the …
Immigration Barriers Will Affect U.S. Academia., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Immigration Barriers Will Affect U.S. Academia., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
The Nobel Prize is one measure of a country’s intellectual prowess. Whether it is in the sciences, literature or economics, to win one is always a point of pride, not only for the winners but also for their country of citizenship. Since the first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901, 860 individuals from 76 countries have won it. Of these, 363 have been from the United States. More Nobel Prize winners have been American than any other nationality.
And of the 363 American awardees, 98 were born in other countries. Of the six Americans awarded Nobel Prizes last year in …
Colleges May Take Blame For Government Actions., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Colleges May Take Blame For Government Actions., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
In the last few weeks a number of news events have taken place that may not have been very noticeable, but which can seriously affect higher education in a very detrimental way.
The first event was the publication of the results of a survey conducted by New America, a non-partisan think-tank based in Washington, D.C. The poll surveyed 1,600 people and found that the American public is becoming more and more ambivalent about the value of higher education. Three-quarters of the respondents agreed that it is easier to be successful with a college degree, but one-quarter said higher education is …
Private Colleges Can Partner To Solve Issues., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Student Debt Disproportionally Affects Blacks., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
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.
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.
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 …