Notes in the Margins: Coaching salaries, Penn State and the bottom third

For millions of college dropouts, second chances prove difficult Students who quit college are costing taxpayers around $3 billion a year in state appropriations to colleges and universities, as well as federal and state grants to students. And that’s only for beginning full-time students who drop out during their first year. If every dropout were counted, the cost would be much higher. (The Hechinger Report)

Penn State rethinks role of football program amid scandal In his first extensive interview since taking office last month, Penn State President Rodney Erickson said Tuesday that he seeks to transform the university's public face from a football factory to a "world class research institution." (USA Today)

Do teachers really come from the ‘bottom third’ of college graduates? The conventional wisdom among many education commentators is that U.S. public school teachers “come from the bottom third” of their classes. Most recently, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took this talking point a step further, and asserted at a press conference last week that teachers are drawn from the bottom 20 percentof graduates. (The Washington Post)

New Guarantees Help College Students Graduate in Four Years Some colleges are offering ways to ensure students’ timely exits. (U.S. News & World Report)

What's a College Coach Worth? Recently, The Ohio State University lured Urban Meyer back to the college football sidelines from the television studio with the promise of a king's ransom for his service for the next six years. Meyer's $4 million a year salary makes him the best compensated university official and is more than double what university president E. Gordon Gee, who is the best compensated university president, makes per annum. (The Huffington Post)

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