"Hoping the Price is Right" (Inside Higher Ed, 03/02/09)

Bryce Jessup is looking to keep the family business going during hard times, and it’s fair to say he’s operating on faith these days. Jessup, whose father founded William Jessup University 70 years ago, is banking on the possibility that a recent decision to cut tuition rates will help keep the Christian college afloat, and perhaps even grow enrollment during an economic downturn.

"Well-Regarded Public Colleges Get a Surge of Bargain Hunters" (NYTimes, 03/01/09)

At SUNY New Paltz, as at many other well-regarded public institutions this spring, admissions calculations carefully measured over many years are being set aside as an unraveling economy is making less expensive state colleges more appealing.

"Educating 'Middle-Skill' Workers" (InsideHigherEd, 02/27/09)

To the chagrin of many in technical education, the bachelor’s degree still hogs the spotlight in the minds of most students. Now, days after President Obama challenged the government to assist everyone in attending at least one year of college, many scholars and business leaders are hoping to make a strong public case for the value of the associate degree and work skills credentials.

"More KY Students Go Online for Class" (Lexington Herald-Leader, 02/28/09)

But Gentry, 39, participates in class discussions and completes his assignments during the rare nooks and crannies of free time through Bluegrass Community and Technical College's online classes.

Gentry, who is working toward a master's in education so he can teach high school, is among the ever-growing ranks of students who are forgoing the classroom to amass credits online.

"Part-timer motivates with smile" (Accent Advocate, 02/11/09)

At the mere mention of an English course, it is likely that the minds of many envision a seemingly interminable session of lectures along with torturous, sleepless nights spent completing boring essays containing content that will regrettably be forgotten under the assumption that it will never be of any importance.

Yet, there is always that one teacher emitting an infectious, positive personality that completely revolutionizes the atmosphere of teaching and revives a student’s eager spirit for learning.

"Prime time to shine" (Cincinnati Enquirer, 02/08/09)

The Enquirer's College Quest project is following 13 students through the college admission process. The high school Class of 2010 will be the largest entering college freshman class in history, a demographic that will make the college search more challenging for many.

"High Hopes for College Despite Low Test Scores" (New America Media, 02/10/09)

In a state where fewer than half of low-income students graduate from high school, this school is taking the mantra of "high expectations" to another plane.

"Minority GPAs reflect lack of preparation" (Daily Kent Stater, 02/10/09)

As more minority students continue to graduate from high school, their presence in colleges across the country has increased during the last three decades. But these rising numbers have not been reflected by their college grades.

"Gordon Gee’s Call for ‘Reinvention’ of Higher Ed" (Inside Higher Ed, 02/09/09)

Gordon Gee told his fellow college presidents Sunday evening that the current economic crisis is no reason not to consider bold and far-reaching reforms of the institutions. “I am calling for intentional upheaval at our colleges and universities just when fiscal chaos already places us on the edge,” Gee said here at the annual meeting of the American Council on Education.

"The Senate Sheds Education Aid" (Inside Higher Ed, 02/09/09)

A compromise amendment worked out by moderate Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate late Friday slashed billions of dollars that would have flowed to colleges and universities in the Senate’s original version, with the biggest cuts coming in education aid to states and funds to modernize college facilities.

"Blacks Less Likely to Take A.P. Exam" (NYTimes, 04/04/09)

More than 15 percent of the three million students who graduated from public high schools last year passed at least one Advanced Placement exam, the College Board said Wednesday, but African-American students were still far less likely to have passed, or to even have taken, an A.P. exam than white, Hispanic or Asian students.

"It’s Culture, Not Morality" (Inside Higher Ed, 02/03/09)

What if everything you learned about fighting plagiarism was doomed to failure? Computer software, threats on the syllabus, pledges of zero tolerance, honor codes — what if all the popular strategies don’t much matter? And what if all of that anger you feel — as you catch students clearly submitting work they didn’t write — is clouding your judgment and making it more difficult to promote academic integrity?

"Internet connection + English = college degree" (Ars Technica, 02/01/09)

Shai Reshef has a vision: soon, anyone with an Internet connection and some proficiency in English can take classes online at his new "University of the People." And not just classes—the school will be accredited, offering actual degrees in subjects like computer science. Charges will be minimal, starting at just $15, and will be based on the student's country.

"Hi, I'm Jill. Jill Biden. But please, call me Dr. Biden" (LATimes, 02/02/09)

LA Times article suggests that Joe Biden's wife shouldn't use the title of "Dr." since she's not a medical doctor.

Dr. Biden earned her doctorate in education, from the University of Delaware and is currently teaching two courses at Northern Virginia Community College.

"Want to Get a Degree Online? Get Ready to Work Just as Hard." (Wash Post, 02/01/09)

One way to get an edge in this job market is to earn an advanced degree. Just don't assume that doing it online will be easy. Online master's programs are often cheaper and more convenient than traditional ones, but they also present challenges.

"The State of the Humanities" (Inside Higher Ed, 01/07/09)

Statistics released today in the Humanities Indicators Prototype, a project of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences provide details on faculty satisfaction, salary ranges, and student majors. The data come from a wide range of sources and cover graduate and undergraduate education, as well as elementary and secondary education, and indicators that relate broadly to American life.

"Assessing a Hot Assessment Tool" (Inside Higher Ed, 11/10/08)

The Collegiate Learning Assessment may be passing the largest test to date of whether it can measure growth in student learning. But the study of the CLA also found that many minority students and those who are not well prepared for college show smaller gains on the CLA — potentially reinforcing the concerns some have about how the test may be used.

"Encouraging Colleges to Look Within" (Inside Higher Ed, 11/10/08)

The National Survey of Student Engagement — an annual report providing comparative data on student experiences at four-year institutions nationwide — is entering its 10th year. Now that the survey is reaching what some consider a critical mass of participants, this year’s report finds that variations in educational quality are more prevalent within institutions than among them. As a result, NSSE officials argue that holistic assessments, such as theirs, provide a more accurate comparison than do those using institution-wide averages.

"College Ends Ban on Nietzsche Quote" (Inside Higher Ed, 11/7/08)

Whether or not “God is dead,” as Nietzsche famously argued in The Gay Science, the philosopher’s famous quote can once again be displayed on the doors of faculty offices at Temple College, in Texas.

College costs rise

Overall costs of attending private school increased 4.8%, while in-state public school costs rose 5.7% from previous school year, College Board says.