When it comes to the use of race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, no one seems to be happy with the way it’s playing out. Opponents charge that taking into account an applicant’s race or ethnicity amounts to “reverse discrimination.” Supporters recognize that disadvantaged minorities have been losing ground under affirmative action. Blacks and Hispanics […] … learn more→

Librarians in the University of California system are represented by the American Federation of Teachers.  They are currently engaged in bargaining a new contract.  In the course of that process the UC-AFT proposed that the following underlined language be added to Article 1, Recognition, in the new contract: The University recognizes librarians as academic employees, and further recognizes […] … learn more→

‘Hello!’ to anyone who’s stuck in their PhD. I feel for you. As I write, I’m half-way through my PhD program, and I’ve been stuck too. I’m out the other side now, but it’s made me think: a PhD and Mars have a lot in common. Remember the movie, ‘The Martian’? Matt Damon plays astronaut, […] … learn more→

Some time ago, a professor made a blog post, chastising a teacher for shutting down a student who advocated for, well, traditional marriage. Arguing for heterosexual marriage is a faux pas on campus today, and the school formed a committee to investigate this “inappropriate” behavior. A few posts on a blog. Seven members on the […] … learn more→

By reporting fraud, my husband acted to protect the scientific integrity of repositories of knowledge in libraries and databases. Protecting these valuable but endangered resources from the introduction of falsified publications must be done early in the manuscript review stage. My husband was a faculty member in the School of Medicine and Director of a […] … learn more→

It is a beautiful day, you’re safely and sensibly driving down the street, peacefully keeping yourself to yourself when, all of a sudden – ka-Boom!  Someone runs a stop sign and smashes into your car.  It’s not your fault.  And your day’s already chock full of deadlines, personal multi-tasks and a maybe even concert tickets.  […] … learn more→

This month, more than 4 million students across the nation will begin high school. Many will do well. But many will not. Consider that nearly two-thirds of students will experience the “ninth-grade shock,” which refers to a dramatic drop in a student’s academic performance. Some students cope with this shock by avoiding challenges. For instance, they may drop rigorous coursework. […] … learn more→

Higher education leaders are, in essence, multitaskers: educational diplomats who are equally proficient financiers, human resource managers and pedagogical visionaries. The last quality is particularly important with the introduction of digital technologies and the transition that they will bring to all facets of the higher education environment. Higher education is experiencing the ripple effect of […] … learn more→

Few would disagree that a good education means more than just exam results. The benefits of non-academic experiences – from sports competitions, charity events, or school plays – have been shown to lead to more than just happy memories. Evidence shows that taking part in extracurricular activities can support academic attainment, even into adulthood, as well as bringing personal benefits […] … learn more→

Until last week, Congress had made little movement to amend or overhaul the Higher Education Act (HEA) since the GOP-led House education committee approved the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity Through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act last December. But leading up to Congress’ August recess, three new bills were released that have implications for aspiring […] … learn more→