What We’re Reading: Western Culture, Groupthink, and Queer Criminology
Jenna A. Robinson, President Jacques Barzun’s magnum opus, From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, has been a revelation—of my own inadequate history education. As the title says,…
Which Country’s Higher Education System Is Best?
Many Americans crow that our higher education system is “the envy of the world,” even though it’s nearly impossible to point to any proof of that. In truth, however, some…
The Mess of Federal Funds Is Changing the University
The modern American university has changed almost beyond recognition from the form it had even 100 years ago. It is larger, more “diverse,” more of a business, and more industrialized…
Did You know? The North Carolina Legislature Provides 41% of the UNC System’s Operational Funding
The North Carolina General Assembly often takes heat from the media on the topic of funding for education. But at least some of that criticism is unfounded. The General Assembly…
Can American Higher Education Be Restored?
People who analyze and write about higher education generally fall into two camps. One camp consists of those who believe that our system is “the envy of the world” and…
Did You Know? Administrative Expenditures in the UNC System Keep Climbing
Expenditures for institutional support in the UNC system have increased significantly: from $2,217 per student in 2006 to $4,069 per student in 2017. Adjusted for inflation, that’s nearly 50 percent…
Student Loan Defaults Reveal the True Cost of Student Loans
With the rising number of student loan defaults, the federal government has reaped what it has sown. A government policy to give virtually any student a loan has pushed tens…
What Can Other Universities Learn from Purdue’s Tuition Freeze?
Tuition freezes are gaining popularity across the country. Earlier this year, university systems in Virginia and Pennsylvania announced that tuition would not rise in the next academic year, saving students…
Did You Know? The Mega-wealth Tucked Away in Endowments
Collectively, the endowments of 15 Massachusetts colleges in 2017 were $70 billion, greater than the GDP of Lithuania. And Massachusetts isn’t alone—the endowments of 15 California colleges totaled $55 billion,…
What Do North Carolinians Think About Student Debt?
Student loan debt has reached the dizzying level of nearly $1.6 trillion—largely due to ever-soaring tuition prices and students taking on financial burdens that far outweigh their earning potential. The…