Sat.Jun 24, 2023 - Fri.Jun 30, 2023

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Supreme Court Rejects Affirmative Action

Confessions of a Community College Dean

Justices deem admissions programs at both Harvard and UNC Chapel Hill to be unconstitutional. This is a developing story. Please return throughout the day for more coverage. The U.S. Supreme Court declared Thursday that the admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill illegally violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

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Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Conscious Admissions

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

In a pair of votes, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down race consciousness in college admissions on Thursday, upending four decades of precedent. The court voted 6-3 against the race conscious practices of the University of North Carolina (UNC) and 6-2 against the practices of Harvard, due to the recusal of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson The court’s opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, articulated three main reasons that the affirmative action programs at Harvard and UNC violated the eq

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Common App Essay Prompt 2: Overcoming Obstacles or Challenges

Great College Advice

Write the Common App Essay Prompt 2 About Overcoming Obstacles or Challenges Writing a good essay for your Common Application is tough. You have to dig into your life and find interesting nuggets to share with perfect strangers. Common App essay prompt 2 asks you about some things that perhaps you’d rather not talk about: your failures, your greatest challenges, and moments that just aren’t things you want to talk about all that much.

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‘I haven’t had a single normal year at university’: the UK students graduating without a graded degree

The Guardian Higher Education

An unlucky cohort of undergraduates has been plagued by Covid restrictions, education strikes and finally a marking boycott Emily Smith, a final-year geography student at Durham University, never imagined her already heavily disrupted university experience could end like this. She won’t be graduating this summer because half her work remains unmarked owing to a national marking boycott by lecturers.

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Amy Gutmann’s $23 Million and the Triumph of Cynicism

Confessions of a Community College Dean

The University of Pennsylvania paid its former president almost $23 million in 2021—prompting Jonathan Zimmerman to ask, where is the outrage? In 2006, University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann was photographed at a Halloween party standing next to a student dressed as a suicide bomber. The photo went viral, and Gutmann—who had become president two years earlier—was forced to issue an apology.

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AAUP Files Amicus Brief Challenging “Stop W.O.K.E.” Act

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in support of Florida faculty who are challenging the state’s “Stop W.O.K.E.” Act. Gov. Ron DeSantis The 2022 state law – the “Individual Freedom Act” (“IFA”) – bans professors at Florida’s public universities from expressing certain viewpoints while teaching topics such as racial and sexual discrimination and injustice.

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Common App Essay Prompt 5 About a Period of Personal Growth

Great College Advice

Write a Great Common App Essay on Personal Growth Common App Essay Prompt 5 asks you to “discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.” If you’re looking to highlight your transformative journey, consider crafting a Common App essay on personal growth. The best Common Application essays show how you have grown as a person over time and how you reflect on that personal growth.

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DeSantis Challenges Constitutionality of Accreditation

Confessions of a Community College Dean

Higher education lawyers and advocates say the lawsuit is more about politics than a serious legal challenge—though others say it makes a compelling case. For 58 years, the accreditation system of higher education has stood, enshrined in federal law and reaffirmed with each reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Now, a federal lawsuit from the state of Florida is looking to upend that entire system, which is a key part of the federal accountability system that helps to determine wh

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Dr. Timothy Alvarez Retires from Otero College in Purpose, with Satisfaction

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Dr. Timothy Alvarez’s life is a living example of the importance of mentors in higher education. Dr. Timothy Alvarez From earning an associate degree to serving as president of a community college, Alvarez understands the value of higher education and the need to create pathways and support systems. As he prepares to retire Aug. 11, after five years as president of Otero College, which is part of the Colorado Community College System, he does so with a sense of satisfaction that he followed his

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Famous Graduates of Liberal Arts Colleges

Great College Advice

Surprise. There are lots of famous graduates of liberal arts colleges. The liberal arts seem to be getting a bad rap these days. Students and parents alike are wondering what the value of a broad education could be. Instead they want their kids to pursue seemingly lucrative majors in STEM, engineering, or the realm of finance and economics. Nevermind that the drop-out rate from STEM majors is very high, especially at large universities.

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More than 40% of today’s online students are previous college stop-outs: report

University Business

A new report exploring the makeup of today’s online students has found that a considerable chunk is first-generation, previous stop-outs or a combination of both. “Voice of The Online Learner” found that half of today’s online learners had previously stopped out of a college-level degree or certificate program (42%) and one-third are first-generation students.

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Liberty University Spokesperson Invokes Hitler

Confessions of a Community College Dean

Liberty University communications director Ryan Helfenbein sparked controversy in an interview last week when he referred to Adolf Hitler and other murderous dictators while discussing cultural battles over education at the Road to Majority Policy Conference held in Washington, D.C.

Education 130
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Tennessee State University Planning to be First HBCU Sponsor for Ice Hockey Program

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Tennessee State University (TSU) is looking to become the first HBCU to sponsor an ice hockey program, The Athletic reported. TSU – in partnership with the NHL , the NHL Players Association and the Nashville Predators – plans to launch a men’s club ice hockey team in the 2024-25 school year. The school aims to start competing at the club level in the American College Hockey Association (ACHA), but eventually wants to field men’s and women’s teams in ACHA Division 1 or Division 2 level in 2026-2

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Want To Be An Architect? Study the Liberal Arts!

Great College Advice

What Classes Do I Need to Be an Architect? A client of mine is a budding architect. He is taking an independent study in architecture at his high school. He has become very enthusiastic about the possibility of turning his interest into a career. But he is unsure about what road to take as an undergraduate. Should he look for universities that offer a Bachelors degree in architecture.

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How Is Higher Education Preparing for Quantum Computing?

EdTech Magazine - Higher Education

The promise of quantum computing is simple enough to understand. “Do you know any industry that doesn’t need faster processing speeds?” says David Stewart, managing director of the Quantum Science and Engineering Institute at Purdue University. “If you think of it that way, it’s going to be applicable for everything.” Exactly when quantum computing will be “applicable for everything” remains an open question.

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The ChatGPT Commencement Address

Confessions of a Community College Dean

Wells College president Jonathan Gibralter is among the higher ed leaders who used ChatGPT to craft a graduation speech this year. But the administrative potential of such tools remains largely untapped. As Wells College graduates gathered last month, President Jonathan Gibralter delivered a commencement address that sounded like countless others delivered across the country.

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Lieberman Expected to Lead La Verne to Next Stage

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

When Dr. Devorah Lieberman became president of University of La Verne in 2011, a private institution of approximately 8,000 students about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, she was in many ways seeing life come full circle. At the time she was offered the position, she was the provost of Wagner College in New York City, which caused the hiring committee to ask how a New Yorker would adapt to Southern California.

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Find a Good College Fit: Academics

Great College Advice

Find the Right Fit: Start with Academics Finding the right college fit is tough. About as tough as finding a good pair of shoes. I recently bought a pair of shoes. I’m hard to fit. I have small feet for a guy (7.5). My feet are pretty wide. And they pronate, or roll in when I walk. Add to the fit issue, I’m pretty picky. Not just any shoe that fits will do.

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Banning Affirmative Action Won’t Stop DEI, But It’ll Make it Harder

Paradigm IQ

Today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action is, sadly, not a surprise. Over the past few months, as the Court’s decision has drawn cl.

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‘In God We Trust’ in Every Louisiana Classroom

Confessions of a Community College Dean

A new Louisiana law that requires “In God We Trust” signs displayed in classrooms raises larger questions about religion and higher ed. Public colleges and universities and K-12 schools in Louisiana will be required to display signs that read “In God We Trust” in all classrooms starting in August, according to a new law signed by Governor John Bel Edwards earlier this month.

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Report Finds 100% of Incarcerated Borrowers in Default, Limiting their Access to Pell Grants

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

On July 1 st , incarcerated Americans will re-gain access to Pell grants for the first time in nearly 30 years. Reformers have hailed the change as a critical step towards enabling people in prison to experience the myriad benefits of higher education. But a new report has revealed that an important segment of this population may be largely left out: those who already have student loans.

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High GPA or Hard Classes? Which Is Better?

Great College Advice

Which is Better: High GPA or Hard Classes? The question that parents and students most often ask me is, “which is better: getting a high GPA or hard classes?” The humorous, accurate, but not always helpful response is: “Take the hardest course you can and get an ‘A’ in it.” Here’s the scoop: this is not an easy question to answer categorically.

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4 Tips for Securing and Keeping Cyber Insurance Coverage

EdTech Magazine - Higher Education

Cyberthreats continue to be an issue for universities, putting them at risk for compromising massive amounts of sensitive data or experiencing service interruptions. Cybersecurity insurance has proved its value, but coverage is becoming more difficult to obtain. Universities face increased scrutiny of their security measures, user training, and where and how data is stored and used.

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SUNY Adds Liaisons for Homeless Students

Confessions of a Community College Dean

In a coordinated effort to address student housing insecurity, the State University of New York system will designate a staff member on every campus to work with homeless students. Navigating college can be especially challenging for students experiencing homelessness. “At a very basic level, housing insecurity and homelessness are a real risk to student success,” said Bryce McKibben, senior director of policy and advocacy at the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, which is dedicated

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Vanderbilt University to Launch $17-million DEI and Belonging Program for Biomedical Research Community

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Vanderbilt University (VU) are launching a $17-million diversity, equity, inclusion, (DEI) and belonging program for the biomedical research community. Dr. Consuelo Wilkins The Vanderbilt Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation Program (V-FIRST) – funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – will aim to accelerate hiring, promotion, and retention efforts for diverse, early-career investigators.

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Community college and career opportunities becoming a higher priority for high schoolers

University Business

Time and time again, Gen Z students share their thoughts on whether they intend to pursue an education beyond high school, a statistic that often changes depending on the current climate. For instance, the pandemic caused many students to rethink their postsecondary decisions. Similarly, a recent report from the American School Counselor Association revealed that more than one-fourth of the graduating class of 2023 reported having doubts about college.

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All About API

Symplicity

If you, like me, are a career services professional just making your way through this crazy, high-tech world to stay connected to your students, Application Programming Interface (or API) probably doesn’t mean much to you!

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Cabrini University Will Close

Confessions of a Community College Dean

After months of seeking a partnership, Cabrini University will close. Nearby Villanova University is working on a deal to acquire its campus. After months of uncertainty and a failed search for a partner to keep its doors open, Cabrini University will close. Nearby Villanova University is working on a deal to purchase its campus. According to a joint statement from both institutions, Cabrini will graduate its last class next May, giving it one final year of runway before the small Roman Catholic

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Workgroup Releases Recommendations for Black Student Equity

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Since the 2015 launch of Graduation Initiative 2025, a state-backed project to improve graduation rates, the California State University system (CSU) has made significant progress, with students from all groups earning degrees at higher rates. But disparities persist. The graduation rate gap between Black and white students is 22.2 percentage points,3 of a percent higher than it was fifteen years ago.

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Could the ‘Metaversity’ be the college campus of the future?

University Business

In partnership with educational virtual reality developers VictoryXR, Morehouse created a virtual space where students could congregate for class remotely. Using a virtual reality (VR) headset, students first “spawn” into the digital twin campus, a familiar environment that “makes them more comfortable with the fact that they’re in new and emerging technology,” says Morris.

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Texas A&M Today: New Department Of Hospitality, Hotel Management And Tourism Approved At Texas A&M

Hanover Research

The new department will offer three new undergraduate degree tracks in hospitality, hotel management and tourism. Hanover Research projects employment in hospitality and hotel management over the next 10 years to grow 6.3% nationally and 17.2% in Texas. The post Texas A&M Today: New Department Of Hospitality, Hotel Management And Tourism Approved At Texas A&M appeared first on Hanover Research.

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Duke’s Affordable Action Plan

Confessions of a Community College Dean

The university’s decision to waive tuition for lower-income North and South Carolinians is officially about equity. But its potential as a recruitment tool for underserved students connects it to affirmative action’s uncertain fate. Duke University announced last week that it would offer full tuition grants starting this fall to students from North and South Carolina whose family income is less than $150,000.

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Campuses Host a Range of LGBTQ+ Programming for Pride Month

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

In honor of Pride Month, college and university campuses across the U.S. celebrated and supported its LGBTQ+ communities in a wide range of ways. "Now, especially with all the anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, it's important that we have visibility on college campuses and in communities," said Shane Windmeyer., executive director and founder of Campus Pride. Shane Windmeyer At Emory University , those from multiple generations of the LGBTQ+ community were allowed to tell their stories and discuss American qu

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How 2 college equity leaders advise navigating a changing climate amid backlash

University Business

Higher education’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is nearing a potential inflection point as two trends coalesce this summer: State bills stamping out DEI offices and two Supreme Court rulings are expected to strike down affirmative action in the coming days. These decisions, some higher education stakeholders argue, will have both short- and long-term impacts on minority students and American communities at large.

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Renaissance: The Role of Succession Planning in Diversifying the American College Presidency

Higher Education Today

By Ashley L. Gray The 2022 release of Renaissance, Beyoncé’s seventh solo album, took the world by storm. In “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé’s lyrics, accompanied by Big Freedia’s call for us to “release,” express the need for releasing the way things have been done in all spheres of life. Within higher education, the true diversification. Read more » The post Renaissance: The Role of Succession Planning in Diversifying the American College Presidency appeared first on Higher Education Today.

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Students Report Sexual Assault—but Mainly to Their Peers

Confessions of a Community College Dean

According to a large-scale survey by Vector Solutions, students are significantly more likely to discuss a sexual assault with a peer than with an authority figure on campus.

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Dr. Dana B. Hamel, Founding Chancellor of Virginia Community College, Dies at 99

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Dr. Dana B. Hamel, founding chancellor of Virginia Community College, has died at 99, NBC 12 reported. Dr. Dana B. Hamel “Dr. Hamel died Friday night, just a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday,” VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré said in a statement. “We have lost a great friend and Virginia has lost one of its guiding lights of the 20th century.” Hamel was chancellor from 1966-1979, during which his guidance and determination resulted in one of the U.S.’s leading community college systems, Doré sa