Slavery, free college, and the No-Thought Zone

Most with college STEM degrees go to work in other fields, survey finds The report comes at a time when national educational initiatives and funding are focused on increasing participation and graduation rates in the STEM disciplines, in part because of a belief that the United States is losing ground internationally. (The Washington Post)

Appeals Panel Upholds Race in Admissions for University In a long-running affirmative-action case, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s consideration of race as one of many factors in admissions. (The New York Times)

Turning College Into a No-Thought Zone Speech-zone rules require students to ask permission to do such things as hand out leaflets, collect petition signatures, or give speeches; demand that students apply days or weeks in advance; and corral their activities in tiny areas of the campus, often away from the main pathways and quads. (Bloomberg via NAICU)

U.S. colleges have worked to address ties to slavery, Confederacy  With Washington and Lee University’s announcement Tuesday that it will remove historic Confederate battle flags from the main chamber of Lee Chapel and its acknowledgement of regret for the school’s ties to slavery, the college in Lexington, Va., joined numerous other U.S. colleges that have worked to address their ties to slavery and the Confederacy. (The Washington Post)

Free College Idea Picks Up Momentum The idea of college for free for almost everyone has unexpectedly leapt to the top of the conversation about the ever-rising cost of tuition. Tennessee will make its community colleges free beginning next year. Oregon is moving forward with a study considering the idea. (Washington Monthly)

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