Author: Laurie Arnston

Evaluating a Scalable Solution for Enhancing Teaching Practice

There are a variety of ways in which faculty learn, and continue to learn, about teaching. But given the increase in contingent faculty—part-time and full-time non-tenure-track faculty—who now comprise about 75 percent of all college and university instructors, the critical question is, “How do we scale faculty development efforts to reach a greater number of faculty?”

Recruiting Student Veterans at Cornell: True to Our Founding Principles

Currently, fewer than two out of every 1,000 undergraduate students enrolled in Ivy League colleges have served in the U.S. military. Cornell Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff on how—and why—the university is attempting to quadruple its enrollment of undergraduate veterans by 2020.

An Updated Look at Student Loan Debt Repayment and Default

Penn Wharton’s Public Policy Initiative recently released an issue brief highlighting the state of student debt repayment and default. The brief, An Updated Look at Student Loan Debt Repayment and Default, aims to provide insight on these issues for policymakers as amendments to the Higher Education Act are currently being considered.

New From MDRC: Aligning Aid With Enrollment

A new report by MDRC, Aligning Aid with Enrollment, explores if disbursing financial aid refunds biweekly helps students to cover expenses throughout the term by stretching financial aid dollars.

Goodwin College: Inspiring a Call for Community-Based Education

When Goodwin College moved to its present location in East Hartford, Connecticut, the university committed philosophically to creating something new to the region: a community-based educational organization that would become a vital part of the daily life of the town. Goodwin President Mark Scheinberg explains how that is working out.

From Admission to Graduation: Fulfilling the Promise of Higher Education

How does higher education close the attainment gap and assure value for the communities that we serve? With the growing need for more college-educated adults—and the need and public demand for more affordable routes to college—transitional programs appear to be a key strategy, writes Webster University President Beth Stroble. But no single strategy is likely to address the complexities of the situation.

Geography and College Attainment: A Place-Based Approach

Place is an influential determinant of college opportunity and success. But geography should not be destiny. States and higher education institutions should adopt policies and practices that recognize place-based disadvantage, according to Roman Ruiz and Laura W. Perna of the University of Pennsylvania.

Strengthening the College Pipeline for Young Men of Color in California

A new report by The Education Trust – West, the California based office of The Education Trust, examines the barriers to educational opportunities for young men of color in California. The report incorporates interviews with male students of color, their parents, educators and school administrators with research to provide a picture of their experiences in the education pipeline.

Building Family-Friendly Campuses: Strategies to Promote College Success Among Student Parents

While the share of parents enrolled in college has been steadily growing—according to the most recent data, the proportion of students with dependent children has increased 30 percent from 2004-12—the share of parenting students who complete college remains low. Melanie Kruvelis of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research looks at steps institutions can take to better understand and support students with families.