Short Takes

The Center for Urban Education at University of Southern California and the Lumina Foundation have released a series of resources to inform state leaders and policymakers of practices and strategies to increase equity in higher education policy and to guide them through the process.

This video from the American Youth Policy Forum features the stories of several first-generation college students and graduates, and explores their challenges, sources of support, and recommendations for policymakers. It is estimated that between one-third and one-half of college students are first-generation. However, fewer than one-third of these students who enroll in a four year college will graduate within six years.

Achieving the Dream was created in 2004 with support from the Lumina Foundation to improve student outcomes at community colleges by using data to inform decisions. The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Kelly Field recently interviewed Achieving the Dream’s president and CEO, Karen A. Stout, to discuss the progress that has been made since the organization’s inception in improving outcomes for community college students.

A recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center uses student-level data to examine differences between students earning their first postsecondary credential and those who went back to school to earn additional undergraduate credentials.

A new report finds that the ACE Fellows Program distinctive and intensive nominator-driven mentorship model delivers on its commitment to develop knowledge and skills for aspiring senior leaders in higher education.

A recent piece in Entity Magazine asks an important question: Why is the number of female university presidents still so low? Through interviews with ACE President Molly Corbett Broad and others, the piece explores some of the reasons why women have struggled to ascend to the top higher education leadership position.

Institutions and systems are proactively thinking about how to confront a turbulent mix of demographic changes, stagnant revenue streams, and growing demands to simultaneously boost productivity while cutting costs. Recently, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) became the latest example of these looming realities.

The attainment gap between black and white high school students has been closing slowly over time. However, these gaps remain wide at the postsecondary level. A recent article from the Brookings Institution highlights new data from the Equal Opportunity Project to demonstrate how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) act as engines of upward mobility… Read more »

Good things are afoot on the internationalization Princeton, writes alumna Robin Matross Helms. The Dec. 7 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly included an interview with Anastasia Vrachnos—herself an alum—who oversees all things international at Princeton as vice provost for international affairs and operations.

A new report released this week looks at 11 plans that reduce or eliminate the cost of tuition or the need to borrow to cover it, including five at the state and two at the local level. The study summarizes the work of the Task Force on Assessing Tuition- and Debt-Free Higher Education, convened last July by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

As 2016 comes to a close, now is the perfect time to take stock of the fall semester’s accomplishments and put the final touches on preparation for the upcoming term. One approach is highlighted in a new article “Small Teaching Changes, Big Learning Benefits,” by Mary-Ann Winkelmes, part of the monthly Expert Series published by the Association of College and University Educators.

According to a new study, many department chairs receive only minimal training. And when chairs do receive training, they typically focus on hard skills “that may or may not be relevant rather than on interpersonal and other soft skills that can make or break a departmental climate.” That is an area where ACE’s Leadership Academy for Department Chairs can make a difference.