The program’s faculty includes a cadre of sought-after leaders in the field who live around the globe—from South Africa to the U.K.—and are able to come together in one classroom, thanks to technology.
Robert Zemsky says that much of the curriculum in a 4-year college model is unnecessary and is pushing for the normalization of a 3-year college degree.
Julie Wollman says that low enrollment becomes a difficult calculus for higher education administrators who believe the major is important to offer but can't justify high overhead for professors to teach a very small number of students.
Robert Zemsky discusses the "wild" success of the College-in-3 movement, as well as some of the challenges it still faces, including resistance from some more traditional fields of study.
Penn GSE professors and programs are engaged in more than 150 international partnerships and projects in more than 60 countries around the globe. The goal? To change the world through education.
Jonathan Zimmerman says large research universities are the big losers in the Trump administration's endowment tax hike and questions why an institution like Penn should pay more than smaller elite colleges and universities.
As he steps up his role from executive director to assistant dean for teacher preparation and undergraduate education, Sexton is using what he learned completing his executive doctorate over the last two years to “lean into strategic thinking.”
Penn GSE welcomed scores of alumni back to campus to celebrate, reconnect, and learn from a timely faculty panel about how educators can facilitate open and constructive classroom conversations during polarized times.
On May 17, in the Palestra, Penn GSE commemorated the achievements of the roughly 700 master’s and doctoral graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremony.
Julie Wollman notes that, "The pressures on a president are entirely different from a provost’s, given the public attention, the much heavier stress, and responsibilities," and speculates that Rutgers will choose someone who has already proven they can do the job for their next president.
Damani White-Lewis believes it is wrong to assume that a decline in white male professors is necessarily due to discrimination. He points out that the pool of candidates for academic positions–doctoral candidates and postdocs–has also become more diverse.
In The Key podcast, Karen Weaver discusses how recent NCAA policy changes, including NIL earnings, the transfer portal, and the House settlement, are reshaping college athletics and will have broad impacts across higher education.
Ross Aikins supports integrating AI into education, emphasizing that universities must evolve to prepare students for a future shaped by generative AI.
Robert Zemsky leads the College-in-3 Exchange initiative, which supports accelerated degree programs like BYU-Pathway’s as a means to “increase student success while decreasing student costs.”
Karen Weaver, a contributor to Forbes, reported that Judge Claudia Wilken delayed final approval of the NCAA’s $2.8 billion athlete pay settlement, highlighting concerns over new roster cap rules
Penn GSE alumni from across the academic spectrum have advised politicians, worked in the White House and the statehouse, and spurred change in our nation’s schools and universities thanks to their evidence-backed expertise in education policy.
Declining birth rates and rising tuition costs are making it difficult for small colleges to overcome enrollment declines, says Julie Wollman of the Graduate School of Education.
Laura Perna notes that students working over 20 hours a week tend to have lower academic performance, as limited time can hinder their success in college.
During an appearance on WHYY’s Studio 2 on March 18, Jonathan Zimmerman provided historical context for recent attacks on higher education, pointing out that critiques against the academy for a perceived left-wing bias go back more than 70 years.
Karen Weaver sees UConn’s basketball investment as a strategic shift, with non-Power Four schools prioritizing basketball funding over football to stay competitive amid upcoming athlete revenue-sharing.
The adjunct assistant professor has been an Olympic-level athlete, a national championship coach, and a university athletics administrator. Now, she teaches higher education leaders what they need to know to successfully navigate their institutions through the serious challenges facing college athletics today.
The subscription-based service is available to families and school counselors and is currently used in several Philadelphia-area schools, a national network of 25 charter schools, and even a school in Qatar.
Alan Ruby and Matthew Hartley argue for redefining excellence in higher education beyond research and exclusivity, emphasizing institutional purpose, community engagement, and culture to better serve most students.
Penn GSE higher education scholars Matthew Hartley and Alan Ruby explore how universities around the world are redefining excellence by aligning with their missions and making meaningful impacts on their communities.
The first-of-its-kind program aims to support university presidents and senior higher education leaders in championing transformation and innovation within their institutions.
This year’s theme, “The Leadership Moment,” addressed significant challenges in the field, from the enrollment cliff to school mergers and acquisitions and speech freedom.
The researcher and entrepreneur, who was formerly the CIO for for NASA's Johnson Space Center, gives a tour of her office including her launch photos and neurotech device.
Laura Perna explains that college promise programs are structured differently across the many colleges and universities that offer them, but they generally provide students an up-front guarantee that some or all of their tuition will be covered. She adds that a "first-come, first-served" disclosure is a good caveat for students to know, so they don't expect anything they might not receive.
Julie Wollman emphasized that university presidents now face heightened complexity due to societal shifts, including political polarization and a decline in respectful discourse, and must exhibit strong principles, interpersonal skills, transparency, and a proactive approach to foundational leadership functions rather than reactive crisis management.
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.
