For decades, student loans have mostly been prohibited from being discharged through bankruptcy proceedings. That could change under the FRESH START through Bankruptcy Act. Here, public policy scholars Brent Evans and Matthew Patrick Shaw, both of Vanderbilt University, explain why student loan debt cannot usually be cleared through bankruptcy and how that might change if the […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Can student loans be cleared through bankruptcy? 4 questions answered
Communication is changing — and most universities haven’t kept up
Almost everyone can agree communication is important. There is much less agreement about what, exactly, communication is or how best to develop skills in it. Communication today is more multi-modal than ever, but we still tend to give and receive the most training in writing. Our national survey of introductory communications courses in 2020, just published in the journal […] … learn more→
5 benefits of a strong alumni network
An alumni network is a professional and social network that brings together current and former students at a university. If at some point, you have studied somewhere, then you are considered to be an alumnus. As soon as there is more than one alumnus, they become alumni and several alumni imply a wider alumni network. […] … learn more→
Universities need to prepare for student binge drinking after COVID-19 shutdowns
This fall, students headed to university campuses aren’t only dealing with the usual transitions. Students are facing unique transitions to post-secondary life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both new and returning university students are preparing to study in-person for the first time since the pandemic began. Some may be looking for clinics to get vaccinated. At […] … learn more→
Up to 80% of uni students don’t read their assigned readings. Here are 6 helpful tips for teachers
University course readings are pivotal to advance student knowledge and prepare them for class discussions. Despite this, only 20-30% of students read the assigned materials. Drawing on research findings that help explain this alarmingly low rate, this article offers some strategies to help students engage with their required readings. Over the past two decades educators have raised […] … learn more→
Should you publish during your PhD?
So you are not doing PhD by publication. You’re not in a country and/or discipline which expects you to publish during your PhD – yes really, some do. And you hear conflicting advice about whether publishing during your PhD is a good idea or not. Some people say that writing a paper for publication (or a book chapter), while […] … learn more→
Feedback from supervisors can be a good or bad experience. Here’s how to get it right
Giving good feedback is an art. It can be challenging for supervisors and managers, whether in an educational setting or any other workplace. Our newly published review of the past decade’s research on this issue confirms the key elements of improving feedback are to make it meaningful, constructive, timely and regular. Feedback is centred on giving information about actual […] … learn more→
5 issues that could affect the future of campus police
Since the May 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, much of the attention on police reform has been directed at municipal police departments. But there has also been a noticeable uptick in protests against the practices of campus police. Protests have occurred at, among other schools, Yale University, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins […] … learn more→
Students who are more adaptable do best in remote learning – and it’s a skill we can teach
The speed and scale of the shift to remote online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has really tested students’ adaptability. Our study of more than 1,500 students at nine Australian high schools during 2020 found strong links between their level of adaptability and how they fared with online learning. Students with higher adaptability were more confident about online learning […] … learn more→
Does a thesis conclusion have “recommendations”?
I’ve seen many a thesis which concludes with a set of recommendations that arise from the research. This practice troubles me. I’ve got two basic concerns about putting recommendations in a thesis conclusion. My position may be a bit contentious – I don’t know whether or how much, as I can’t recollect reading much discussion […] … learn more→
