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It’s more important than ever for school leaders to collaborate closely with their institution’s board of trustees.

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.

Applications close April 26.

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.

Both books publish April 23 and explore topics deeply important to their authors.

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.

Gerald Campano will also be honored with a lifetime achievement award for his professional achievements and mentorship work.

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.

Zemsky advocates for a shift to three-year degree programs to combat the rising costs and evolving needs of higher education.

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.

Robert Zemsky spearheaded a national initiative to pilot three-year bachelor’s degrees with fewer than 120 credits, aiming to reduce college costs and accelerate workforce entry. The initiative has influenced about 20 schools to consider adopting more accessible and efficient higher education models.

Peter Eckel notes the exceptional nature of governance problems at North Idaho College, stressing that institutions cannot endure under poor governance. He highlights the pivotal role of board-president relations, which were notably strained at the college, impacting its operational effectiveness and accreditation status.

Karen Weaver explains that unionizing would empower athletes to negotiate directly with administrators on key issues like practice lengths and medical care, marking a shift from the traditional model where schools dictate the terms.

Sigal Ben-Porath discusses the challenges private colleges face in balancing inclusivity and free speech, noting that policies may unevenly limit expression, complicating efforts to maintain an open academic environment.

Assistant professor calls for a new, more equitable funding formula that addresses racial and socioeconomic disparities.

The program at Penn GSE stands out in providing direct feedback from trained observers.

Peter Eckel highlights the importance of effective collaboration and open communication between university presidents and their boards to address the evolving challenges within higher education.

Karen Weaver comments on the challenges facing the new athletic director at Arizona, emphasizing the importance of communication among university leadership. She notes the demanding nature of athletic director positions in today's higher education landscape.

The former Institute for Research on Higher Education director critiques Governor Shapiro’s higher ed funding plan for Pennsylvania, emphasizing the need for sustainable priorities and systemic policy leadership.

Karen Weaver observes that the expansion of staff and increase in salaries are significant factors contributing to the financial deficits commonly seen in college athletics.

Books by Peter Eckel, Sharon Ravitch, and Karen Weaver explore a wide range of topics including university systems in former Soviet republics, successful leadership mindsets, and the money and politics behind college athletics.

Joni Finney believes it's too early to judge PennWest University's success post-merger and advocates for innovative leadership from non-traditional backgrounds to address its challenges.

Sigal Ben-Porath suggests that campuses should balance inclusion with free speech through specific rules, acknowledging the complexity of navigating controversial speech without undermining safety or diversity.

MRMJJ Presidential Professor Sigal Ben-Porath says faculty must take the lead in fostering constructive dialogue across differences and creating safe environments for open discussion.

Ross Aikins found students are finding new ways to use the tools, and AI is especially helpful for international students.

Laura Perna suggests that while community college is often promoted as an affordable educational route, it's not a universal solution due to limitations like accessibility and credit transfer issues, and emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of who bears the costs of higher education, advocating for a role for state and federal governments in making it more accessible and affordable.

Diana Wildermuth provides some pointers for parents and caregivers to help their student athletes navigate the college recruiting process.

Peter Eckel suggests the impending decline in U.S. college enrollment is due to a shrinking traditional college-age population, driven by lower birth rates and reduced immigration.

A new year means a new version of the RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, with the 2024 edition announced yesterday by Education Week. Nine researchers from the University of Pennsylvania made the annual 200-member list, which was created by Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to gauge the public impact of ed scholars’ contributions.

Robert Zemsky advocates for a new approach to three-year college degrees, which involves fundamentally redesigning undergraduate curricula to reduce the total required credit hours, allowing students to complete their degrees in three years while still enjoying a full college experience.

Karen Weaver emphasizes that it is a standard practice for universities to provide financial assistance to their athletic departments, often in the form of low-interest loans. She recognizes the specific financial challenges and considerations Stanford University faces in its transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference, highlighting that such support represents a strategic and calculated decision by the university.

Laura Perna criticizes the inaccuracy and lack of availability of college net price calculators, advocating for clearer, more up-to-date tools to help students understand the true costs of higher education.

Sigal Ben-Porath views the changes in higher education regulation in states like Florida and North Carolina as primarily driven by Republican goals and visions for the sector, indicating a significant shift in how public higher education is being managed and regulated.

Pheng recently received the 2023 AESA Taylor & Francis Educational Studies Award for the Best Paper of the Year.

Dr. Laura Perna acknowledged GradRight's initiative as a significant solution to the challenges of access, affordability, and inclusivity faced by Indian students seeking higher education abroad.

Hiring tips from Penn GSE’s Damani White-Lewis

Karen Weaver acknowledges the complexity and emotional impact of cutting sports programs at universities like the University of Arizona, noting it's a difficult decision that affects loyal alumni and student-athletes, and is driven by financial challenges and varying media-rights revenues in collegiate sports.

According to Laura Perna, Black and Hispanic faculty are underrepresented at Maryland's largest public universities, reflecting a widespread issue in academia, with barriers to diversification including unrecognized "invisible labor," narrow definitions of merit, and bias in promotion and tenure processes, impacting faculty diversity and student-faculty ratios.

Karen Weaver raises concerns about private equity investments in college sports, including potential backlash from the public, ethical considerations when accepting investment from controversial sources, and the impact on university philanthropy efforts and tax benefits for donors.

Robert Zemsky highlights a broader trend of devaluation in higher education and the challenges faced by institutions cutting faculty positions and programs, suggesting that only top-tier universities are thriving while others are struggling.

Peter Eckel explores the evolution of governance choices in post-Soviet universities. He discusses four distinct governance models that have emerged across the region, emphasizing the need for flexible and context-specific governance structures to meet the diverse needs of higher education institutions in these countries.