Notes in the Margins: Campus luxury, PhD funding and the internship scam

Schools need to stop scamming students via internships Several universities require that students pay to get internship credit hours over the summer, just as they would for a summer session class. But instead of going to summer school, students are forced to pay for their unpaid internship. (USA Today)

Coached Through College: Professional Motivators Decrease Dropout Rates Students who were coached by phone, email, and text messages were 15 percent more likely to stay in school, research found. Thirty-one percent earned some sort of degree within four years, a graduation rate four percentage points higher than that of their classmates who were not coached. (Time / The Hechinger Report via NAICU)

U.S. Private College Tuition, Fees Rise Least in Four Decades Tuition and fees at private, non-profit U.S. colleges rose 3.6 percent in 2013-2014, the smallest increase in more than 40 years, as families struggle to afford college costs. The increase was the lowest since at least the 1972-1973 year. (BloombergBusinessweek via University Business)

Campus luxury deserves to be showcased While many might be quick to criticize this as the university moving away from the academic side of higher education, people also need to be aware that college is an experience. Going to a university that is aesthetically appealing and provides opportunities to relax and enjoy oneself is an absolute luxury, one we are lucky enough to have. Why wouldn’t we market that? (Central Florida Future via University Business)

Fund more PhDs, not more generous ones A recent study suggests that the amount of funding might not be as important to student success as integration into productive research activities. (University World News)

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