Year: 2014

Dear Colleague…

Sexual assault at colleges and universities is a serious problem. Protecting students is paramount to the mission of all institutions, and we know that sometimes we fail. But to help achieve real change, the federal government must partner with the higher education community on a single, clear set of federal requirements in this area.

DC Universities Partnering to Go Solar

American University and George Washington University recently signed a pact to power significant portions of their campuses with solar power by 2020. Together, the universities purchased solar power at a fixed rate for the next 5 years.

Inertia

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s an appropriate time to briefly recap higher education-related activity on Capitol Hill. ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle writes on recent action—or lack thereof—in Congress and the higher education issues waiting in the wings, including President Obama’s college ratings plan.

Arizona State, Starbucks Team Up to Help Students Complete Degrees

Arizona State University is participating in a new effort to increase the number of students who complete their degrees. The Starbucks College Achievement Plan, a joint effort of ASU and Starbucks, will allow thousands of eligible Starbucks employees to enroll, with partial or full financial support from Starbucks, in any of ASU’s 40 online bachelor’s degree programs.

Commence the Commencements

Debates over speakers aside, commencement season is a happy and inspirational time in higher education, as thousands of students walk across stages in concert halls and stadiums around the country to receive their hard-earned diplomas. Indiana University this year put together a great infographic on their graduates.

It’s Not Just in the Numbers: Making Campus Diversity Work Post-Schuette

As the legal and political issues continue to unfold over diversity in admissions policies, we have to remember: It doesn’t matter who comes to your campus unless you make sure students are, in fact, benefiting from diverse environments. The mere presence of minority students in a classroom, laboratory, residence hall or elsewhere on campus does not automatically result in educational benefits.

Three Trends Worth Watching for Continuing Education Leaders

More than 36 million adults between 25 and 64 years of age have completed some college, but don’t have a degree. Further, there are 44.5 million American adults with high school diplomas, but no college experience. Cathy Sandeen identifies a few emerging trends institutions might consider in their quest to serve this massive market of non-traditional students.

Patent Troll Legislation Could Hinder University Research and Innovation

The ability of universities to continue generating important discoveries and innovations in areas such as health and technology, research that often leads to life-saving inventions such as new drugs or groundbreaking ways to cultivate arid soil in developing countries, may rest on the outcome of a legislative battle now in Congress.