Virtual Lab Experiment

The California State University System is spending $17.2 million on education technology to break the so-called course bottleneck that prevents students from advancing, prompts some to drop out and consumes state resources. By investing in virtual labs to end in-the-flesh lab experimentation for students who are not biology majors, Cal State will reduce personnel costs and increase course capacity. Rivard, Ry. "Virtual Lab Experiment." Inside HigherEd, 23 May, 2013. Read article »

Beyond Study Abroad

Under the vice provost for global initiatives, The University of Pennsylvania is promoting noncredit international internships and post-graduation work opportunities as alternative ways for students to gain meaningful experiences abroad. The university’s strategic plan for international initiatives calls for growing the number of stipends available to support international internships and working with the career services office to identify and highlight international job and internship opportunities. Redden, Elizabeth. "Beyond Study Abroad". Inside Higher Ed, 14 May 2013. Read article »

GMAC Introduces ‘Soft Skills’ Test, but Not for Admissions

The group behind the GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, are introducing a new test designed to measure students’ personality-related skills, such as resilience, drive, and collaboration. The Graduate Management Admission Council expects that the $99, 45-minute test will be used by employers to gauge the “soft skills” of student applicants. GMAC does not intend, however, for the test to be used as an admissions tool by graduate schools. “GMAC Introduces 'Soft Skills' Test, but Not for Admissions.” Inside Higher Ed, 20 Feb. 2013. Read article »

Virtual Lab Experiment

The California State University System is spending $17.2 million on education technology to break the so-called course bottleneck that prevents students from advancing, prompts some to drop out and consumes state resources. By investing in virtual labs to end in-the-flesh lab experimentation for students who are not biology majors, Cal State will reduce personnel costs and increase course capacity. Rivard, Ry. "Virtual Lab Experiment." Inside HigherEd, 23 May, 2013. Read article »

Virtual Lab Experiment

The California State University System is spending $17.2 million on education technology to break the so-called course bottleneck that prevents students from advancing, prompts some to drop out and consumes state resources. By investing in virtual labs to end in-the-flesh lab experimentation for students who are not biology majors, Cal State will reduce personnel costs and increase course capacity. Rivard, Ry. "Virtual Lab Experiment." Inside HigherEd, 23 May, 2013. Read article »

Free Apps

Reed College is eliminating an application fee for all students. Their aim is to spur more applications from prospective students, particularly low-income and first-generation students. Previously, Reed, like most colleges that charge application fees, allowed low-income students to waive the application fee. But recent research suggests that the paperwork burden associated with waivers and a lack of knowledge that such waivers exist might prevent low-income students from ever applying. 88 percent of institutions have application fees. About 87 percent of colleges charging a fee include a fee waiver for low-income students. Kiley, Kevin. "Free Apps." Inside HigherEd, 23 May 2013. Read article »

Career Services Must Die

A new report, "A Roadmap for Transforming the College-to-Career Experience", calls for the traditional university model of student career services to be rethought. Suggestions include: Student outreach in freshman year; more staff; collaboration with faculty members and administrators; employer and alumni relations; development; office operations and professional development; provide “personal and career development” to build lifetime employability. Grasgreen, Allie. "Career Services Must Die." Inside Higher Ed, 15 May 2013. Read article »

Beyond Study Abroad

Under the vice provost for global initiatives, The University of Pennsylvania is promoting noncredit international internships and post-graduation work opportunities as alternative ways for students to gain meaningful experiences abroad. The university’s strategic plan for international initiatives calls for growing the number of stipends available to support international internships and working with the career services office to identify and highlight international job and internship opportunities. Redden, Elizabeth. "Beyond Study Abroad". Inside Higher Ed, 14 May 2013. Read article »

Revolution Hits the Universities

New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman foresees a day when students will create their own college degrees “by taking the best online courses from the best professors from around the world…paying only the nominal fee for the certificates of completion.” MOOCs, he believes, have more potential than any other technology to remake higher education and “unlock a billion more brains to solve the world’s biggest problems.” Friedman relays the highlights of his recent communications with Coursera team members, noting the exponential growth of Coursera over the past nine months – from 300,000 student users and 38 courses last May to 2.4 million students, 214 courses, and 33 partner universities. Friedman also quotes some of the players behind edX, including M.I.T. president Rafael Reif, who has predicted that in the coming years, universities will increasingly leverage technology and the Internet to enhance traditional on-campus experiences at the same time that they offer online courses to students around the world. Friedman, Thomas. “Revolution Hits the Universities,” The New York Times Op-Ed, 26 Jan. 2013. Read article »

Free Apps

Reed College is eliminating an application fee for all students. Their aim is to spur more applications from prospective students, particularly low-income and first-generation students. Previously, Reed, like most colleges that charge application fees, allowed low-income students to waive the application fee. But recent research suggests that the paperwork burden associated with waivers and a lack of knowledge that such waivers exist might prevent low-income students from ever applying. 88 percent of institutions have application fees. About 87 percent of colleges charging a fee include a fee waiver for low-income students. Kiley, Kevin. "Free Apps." Inside HigherEd, 23 May 2013. Read article »

Penn Campaign Raises $4.3 Billion, Transforming the University

The University of Pennsylvania has raised $4.3 billion through its Making History campaign. The funding will be put toward five objectives: “Opening Educational Doors: Expanding Student Financial Aid,” “Recruiting and Retaining a World-Class Faculty and Staff,” “Expanding a Green Urban Campus: Buildings and Facilities,” “Extending Penn’s Reach, Locally and Globally,” and “Engaging Alumni: The Power of the Penn Community.” For its global objective, Penn plans to create a "world house" in 2015 through which world leaders and Penn faculty members will work to tackle major global problems. Each year, a new problem will be selected. While Penn does not plan to start branch campuses abroad, it is preparing to open a center in China for a range of activities, including faculty research and interviewing applicants. “Penn Campaign Raises $4.3 Billion, Transforming the University.” Penn News, 28 Feb. 2013. Read article »