Skyrocketing US tuition rates, overwhelming student debt rates and other social factors are adding to this trend of US students attending Canadian universities. This is a trend for US Universities to closely follow due to enrollment decreases now and predicted for future. In addition to this trend, the US universities are seeing large decreases in international student enrollment.
https://psmag.com/education/more-american-students-are-being-lured-to-canadian-universities
Carol Cain does an excellent interview with three presidents of Michigan universities. Thoughts on the future, past and opportunities/threats facing Michigan higher education. Interesting to note that Michigan in the area of state aid to higher education in 2001 was nationally number 11 and today it is ranked 43rd. Clearly Michigan needs to do better. Remember that when you are voting in 2018 and 2020. This is important to our state's future and to the future of young Michiganders.
https://on.freep.com/2rByehh
In the the last five years we have seen more CDOs becoming presidents and chancellors. Maybe not enough to call it a trend but certainly an interesting development. At the same time we are seeing more and more non traditional (not Provosts, Deans etc.) presidents being appointed at universities. We know we can safely call that a trend because the number of non traditionals has been significantly increasing. Now add to this list the CDOs.
Governing boards are more and more seeing the skill set needed to be a successful leader/president in today's world being very different from past skill sets needed. This is an important development and trend.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/05/07/chief-diversity-officer-position-new-path-presidency?utm_content=buffer78265&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=IHEbuffer
Some really good advice here for anyone involved in higher education or related issues.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Administration-101-Learn-How/243260
More on the Koch Brothers Foundation influence on George Mason University'academic divisions and hiring decisions. As a result of a court ruling the university was forced to release new documents revealing the extent of the influence by the wealthy donors. Some of the documents are very revealing.
All of this will lead to many changes ar universities across the nation, as to the role of donors in attaching "strings" to their university gifts--and this review of policies is a healthy activity.
Many university foundations are non profit, 501C3, corporations that make them exempt from the freedom of information and open meeting act laws at the state and federal levels. This enables university to keep hidden from public view the conditions of various donor gifts and level of donations from individual donors-until a court decision is made like in this case. There might be more and more legal challenges to the firewalls between university foundations and administration/boards.
Might this all lead to more transparency in how university foundations and university administrators conduct there business?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/05/us/koch-donors-george-mason.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Another public university has joined other private/independent universities/colleges in proposing reductions in tenured faculty positions to help balance the budget. The young president, 38, who has been at the institution since January is facing some real push back from faculty and others. He was hired from the private sector. We will continue to see more and more of these type of proposals as the higher education sector faces serious financial stress due to declining enrollments and big reductions in government appropriations.
Who do you think is next in your state? What are some of the proposals in your state to avoid these situations and confrontations? Send us your thoughts.
"About 50 full-time faculty positions may be on the chopping block at the University of Montana at Missoula, according to anew proposalthat seeks to plug the college’s $10-million deficit over the next three years.
The proposal, called the "University of Montana Strategy for Distinction," was crafted by Seth Bodnar, the university’s president, with the help of a slew of university committees and task forces. In an effort to design a "university and learning infrastructure that keep students and their needs at the center," it proposes a set of structural changes, including reorganizing departments and discontinuing programs.
programs.Ahttps://www.chronicle.com/article/4-Months-Into-His-Tenure-a/243336?key=17K21y7n_SjUZ04t4-9d7nOdszOJVx4DCghewOgjmOpYzwlM9U8NEHEQWDtPvFThS1FWSXpoT1FRSXUtb3lGZmduWmVOSHppOHhEY09DQVFXRmRhaE1wOUx5aw
In a troubling development American universities now receice much of its revenue from tuition as opposed to government appropriations. This has resulted in increasingly higher tuition rates, often making higher education unaffordable for many, many Americans. It has also resulted in higher student debts for those attending universities and colleges. #higher education. #edpolicy.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/american-higher-education-hits-a-dangerous-milestone/559457/
Bet some big time heat on and off campus drove this decision by George Mason University president. This issue is not going away anytime soon and will need more than a "review" of university policies on this issue.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/05/01/george-masons-president-calls-for-donor-agreement-review-after-problematic-discovery/
Another development that will shake a few bones in the private, independent higher education sector. This sure will get attention and debate from faculty, alumni and donors at George Mason University - not to mention at colleges and universities nationwide, from folks on both sides of this issue.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/05/01/koch-agreements-george-mason-gave-foundation-role-faculty-hiring-and-oversight?utm_content=buffer6ff77&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=IHEbuffer
Another big move and major development in the independent, private higher education sector. This proposal by AU is an important and aggressive decision by university leaders and will be closely watched by higher education leaders and faculty nationwide.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/catholic-university-plans-to-cut-full-time-faculty-by-9-percent/2018/04/30/f824d0c2-4c82-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html
What all this proves is that you cannot "discount" student tuition your way out of a financial crisis. We have seen more and more of these situations in last couple of years and you count on seeing more and more.
Maybe our future will be more and more independent colleges and universities merging to survive. Same on closures - more and more. Maybe all of this is a good thing and this right sizing of the higher education will lead to better quality education and more affordable tuition.
The other big question is when will we see more closures and mergers in the public university and college sector? More small publics following this pattern? More mergers of public universities under 1000, 5000, or 10,000 student enrollment? Is there a magic number that public policy makers will say enough is enough and begin mergers, closures and/or other right sizing of higher education? Will any of it lead to more access, affordability or quality? More to come.
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/04/30/another-small-college-brink-closure#.WugKgqZvAYU.twitter
These are very interesting interviews of immigrants put together by Aspen Institute. We all learn from reading these interviews. Important to understand the immigrant perspective as we debate this important issue as a nation. Also as we discuss what we think our national identity is these interviews will assist all Americans.
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/understanding-american-identity-means-listening-immigrants/
Some good facts, data and information about the Central American "caravan" issue being talked about in DC and in the national media. So called "huge" caravan being yelled about on Pennsylvania Avenue have shrunk from over 1000 to 300 as it moved into Mexico border towards northern border.
The truth about the immigrant caravan: What it is and why it’s coming to the US - Quartz
https://apple.news/AsZyHGzutQKK4xpbqSJZ6pg
Very disappointing that top colleges only admit 3% low income. This a very elitist policy that was left unchecked by federal and state policy makers for decades. Why did not alumni and donors not ask this question in past years. Maybe we all should be asking questions like this of our alma maters and demanding answers and corrective policies.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/18/602260480/100-top-colleges-vow-to-enroll-more-low-income-students
Guess what, we often do try to control messaging, communications too much and too often. There are some real interesting observations here.
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/communicators-get-out-way
This issue must be a higher priority of Michigan policy makers-appointed and elected. It just cannot be neglected. Well done perspective from Michigan Future Inc..
http://michiganfuture.org/04/2018/10296/
This is a very powerful piece of journalism by the Washington Post about a young woman being separated from her family who were deported back to Mexico. She is being torn apart by her love of her family now living in Mexico and her burning desire to return to her home in Michigan and eventually go to medical school in Ann Arbor. America we are better than this. A very sad story.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/04/05/feature/for-an-american-teen-whose-parents-were-deported-to-mexico-an-agonizing-choice/
Some really thoughtful ideas and suggestions in this op-ed piece. many will increase student access and level the playing field by increasing economic diversity.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/opinion/sunday/harold-levy-college.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Increased competition, decreasing enrollment and financial distress all lead to mergers, acquisition and closures.
"For-profit colleges struggle....". Detroit News, 4.7.18
https://detne.ws/2JskNrP
This new study on tuition hikes and diversity rates is very interesting and useful in today's higher education market.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/03/27/increases-college-tuition-drive-down-diversity-public-colleges-study-says?utm_content=bufferf7dcf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=IHEbuffer