For all of the words devoted to our student loan mess (or "crisis" or "bubble"), little has been written on its origins. We know that student loan debt now exceeds $1 trillion and that many young Americans are struggling with a heavy burden, but how things got that way is largely a mystery.
With most academic fields, we know what they are about. Political science teaches about political systems and their workings; philosophy about how people have thought on questions such as ethics; literature courses have students read and contemplate worthwhile books.
Back in the early 1990s, while I was in the middle of a long business career, I recall reading that the University of Pennsylvania had decided to add an unusual essay requirement for their undergraduate applicants. Specifically, the students were asked to submit “Page 217” of their 300-page autobiography. Remember now, these budding autobiographers were all of 17 years old.
The John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy has released its biennial report on the University of North Carolina system, “The State of the State University 2015: Critical Facts about the University of North Carolina System.”
Eduardo Porter, who writes "The Economic Scene" for the New York Times, says our country's higher education system is in crisis and that he has a solution.
We discuss controversial presidential searches around the country, propose five ideas for the UNC Board of Governors, and report on a new rating of North Carolina education schools.
Three UNC schools will lower their SAT admission standards next fall
Two modest reasons to preserve the humanities
A new report could pressure weak education schools to make real reforms
Has the corruption ended at UNC-Chapel Hill?