Julee Gard — Vice President for Administration & Finance at the University of St. Francis in Illinois — has gained attention for her model’s ability to provide institutional leaders with actionable insights to enhance financial stability.
Andrew Porter suggests that elite universities with lower acceptance rates often minimize racial graduation rate disparities by selecting students who are the best academic "fit" and fostering a "sense of belonging" through significant investments in support systems that address both academic and emotional challenges specific to nonwhite students.
Julie Wollman explains how out-of-state recruitment has become essential for Pennsylvania colleges in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, raising questions about access for local students.
Laura Perna highlights that recent FAFSA application delays have caused “confusion and real challenges” for students and colleges but believes the planned modifications will ultimately make the process simpler and more beneficial for students.
Karen Weaver highlights that differing state laws pose a major obstacle to college athletes' unionization within conferences, creating legal disparities and recruiting challenges.
Peter Eckel argues that colleges should adapt chemistry programs to align with current student interests, such as sustainability, rather than closing them, to stay competitive and relevant.
Jonathan Zimmerman argues that college rankings should prioritize teaching quality, advocating for classroom observations to assess professor effectiveness rather than relying on inadequate metrics like salaries or student evaluations.
Penn GSE is a key partner in a global research project led by WISE, investigating the role of AI in higher education and its impact on equity and student outcomes.
Karen Weaver claims that college conference realignments are driven primarily by television revenue, particularly from football, and warns that budget disparities within conferences could widen existing divides between schools.
Peter Eckel writes that University presidents must actively collaborate with faculty and faculty governance bodies during a crisis to ensure the best outcome for the institution.
Jonathan Zimmerman argues that the push to weaken tenure will hurt all professors, and warns that these efforts can be turned on conservative professors, even though they are being used against progressive professors currently.
Cortes transforms her office into a dynamic cultural hub, where academic insights and personal touches spark conversations and foster a sense of belonging among students.
South Korean higher ed policy officer and Global Higher Education Management student Yangju Yi describes the master’s program as “eye-opening,” while her policy experience has enriched the class experience for her peers.
Peter Eckel describes John Fry's previous track record of establishing long-term plans and goals for institutions, and expects that he will do the same for Temple. He also emphasizes Temple's importance in the region and its' need for a competent leader.
Julie Wollman says that most institutions of higher education tend to think they’re the only institution that’s not going to be affected by enrollment problems.
Karen Weaver says that any plan to de-professionalize college athletics could be a hard sell if it looks like it’s emphasizing something other than winning.
Robert Zemsky says that the richest and biggest institutions of higher education will continue to prosper while small and vulnerable schools go out of business.
Damani White-Lewis discusses the diminished likelihood for women and POC to get counteroffers compared to their white male counterparts, and emphasizes the importance of counteroffers as an underutilized faculty diversity strategy.
Jonathan Zimmerman argues that Congress should not pass a law that uses the IHRA's definition of antisemitism, because it would prevent debate and discussion about what constitutes antisemitism on college campuses.
Barbara Kurshan emphasizes the importance of women having mentors in their field, especially to combat imposter syndrome and to feel supported in their careers.
Weaver explores the closures of 13 NCAA Division III colleges, linking them to demographic shifts and their severe impact on athletics, while emphasizing the need for sustainable financial strategies.
Perna expresses concerns that the problematic FAFSA rollout could undermine trust in the system and exacerbate the declining college enrollment trends.
Sigal Ben-Porath says it was reasonable for colleges to try and balance preserving free speech while not letting demonstrations disrupt other student experiences, but that what Columbia did was dramatic, if not completely unexpected.
Jonathan Zimmerman discussed free speech and academic freedom in relation to concerns of antisemetic speech on campus, and what the definition of such speech would be.
The talk explored the concept of the “Big Blur,” a model that integrates the final years of high school with early college experiences and workforce preparation.
Vice Provost for Faculty Laura Perna says it is extremely important for students, especially low-income students and first-generation students, to complete the FAFSA as they try to identify ways to pay for college.
Bonilla’s collaborative research underlines the critical influence of mental health on the academic persistence of first-time, low-income community college students, advocating for enhanced support systems.
The team has built a database of institutions nationwide documenting schools’ work on reparations and is currently surveying students of African descent from 11 universities over four years about their experiences on campus.
Gard developed the Financial Viability Index, a color-coded tool designed to help small, tuition-dependent colleges analyze their financial health efficiently and take actionable steps to avoid closure.
Karen Weaver critiques the substantial bonuses for Maryland football coaches for bowl games as indicative of the competitive and costly nature of collegiate sports talent acquisition, reflecting broader financial pressures and priorities within college athletics.
Sigal Ben-Porath recommends clear communication and contextually relevant discussions as strategies for universities to navigate the complexities of free speech on campuses.
