Higher-education institutions are overspending on renovations and new facilities that they hope will boost enrollment, but experts say this plan could lead to financial crisis.
Only 150 of 3500 colleges in the U.S. are worth the investment
Student debt is second largest source of U.S. household debt, after only mortgages.
Some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world are in the U.S. But with the student debt load at more than $1 trillion and youth unemployment elevated, when assessing the value of a college education, that’s only one part of the story.
Continue reading… “Only 150 of 3500 colleges in the U.S. are worth the investment”
Providers of free online higher education add more schools, including foreign schools
Coursera adds 29 universities and institutes to their online venture.
Providers of free online higher education are expanding the ranks of universities that contribute courses to their Web sites. They are also adding many schools from outside the United States.
Students from Saudi Arabia flood U.S. colleges to study English
Saudi students can receive up to a five year visa, with scholarships covering tuition, housing and health benefits.
Meshari Albishi considers the University of Mary Washington his “second home” even though he is not a student there. He has made “a lot of friends,” and has access to the library, workout rooms and other campus facilities. The University of Mary Washington has offered him admission, on one condition: Before he can enroll, he must complete a non-credit program, called English for Academic Purposes.
Continue reading… “Students from Saudi Arabia flood U.S. colleges to study English”
Senate report blasts for-profit colleges
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) presents findings from a two-year investigation into the for-profit college industry.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on Monday unveiled an exhaustive report on a two year investigation of the for-profit higher education industry. The report on the colleges’ business practices, highlighting schools that charge excessively high tuition and shortchange academic investments in order to maximize revenues.
Continue reading… “Senate report blasts for-profit colleges”
A dozen big-name universities join Coursera to offer free online classes
In the last week, more universities signed on with Coursera.
Free online courses from prestigious universities were a rarity a few months ago. Now, they are the cause for announcements every few weeks, as a field suddenly studded with big-name colleges and competing software platforms evolves with astonishing speed.
Continue reading… “A dozen big-name universities join Coursera to offer free online classes”
More colleges taking online education to a new level
Coursera will offer 100 or more free massive open online courses.
There is a shift in online learning that is reshaping higher education. Coursera, a year-old company founded by two Stanford University computer scientists, will announce that a dozen major research universities are joining the venture. In the fall, Coursera will offer 100 or more free massive open online courses, or MOOCs, that are expected to draw millions of students and adult learners globally.
Continue reading… “More colleges taking online education to a new level”
Biggest challenge for colleges isn’t price, it’s students’ attention
As colleges try to deliver more education at the same price, schools will move into the crowded and distractable world of the Web.
Last year, the University of Phoenix enlisted renowned Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen to record a lecture. The university reserved a harbor-view room for Christensen and populated it with young people, so that the camera operators could record their reactions.
Before he began to speak, Christensen noticed that the audience appeared unusually engaged and attractive.
Continue reading… “Biggest challenge for colleges isn’t price, it’s students’ attention”
Employers and colleges demand Facebook passwords from applicants
Maryland Department of Corrections asks a candidate for his Facebook password.
Do you think Facebook and Twitter account privacy settings guarantee future employers or schools can’t see your private posts? You need to think again.
Continue reading… “Employers and colleges demand Facebook passwords from applicants”
Colleges obsess over national rankings, not students
A senior administrator at Claremont McKenna resigned after acknowledging he falsified college entrance exam scores for years to rankings publications such as US News.
Nearly 30 years ago, US News & World Report debuted its list of “America’s Best Colleges”. The magazine hoped its college rankings would be a game-changer for students and families. But instead they have had a much bigger affect on colleges themselves.
Continue reading… “Colleges obsess over national rankings, not students”
Top 10 best colleges in the U.S.
Princeton and Harvard tie as top ranked National University.
Harvard University tied Princeton University as the top-ranked National University in U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 rankings of Best Colleges. Last year, Harvard stood alone as the best ranked National University, a category that encompasses large, research-oriented schools.
Colleges with the fastest rising tuitions will have some explaining to do to the Department of Education
Penn State tops the list for public in-state colleges.
No college wants to top these rankings. Today the Education Department unveils a website on which it is publishing for the first time lists identifying the nation’s most expensive colleges.