Alex FriedrichHaving been named among the “Top 5 Most Unequal Public Universities” by the Institute for Policy Studies on Sunday, the University of Minnesota says the institute’s report — The One Percent at State U — is “outright wrong” and based on “inaccurate data” and a flawed methodology. Here is the U’s updated response from this Read more →
MPR News Intelligence on higher education
Archives for May 2014
Student Debt Grows Faster at Universities With Highest-Paid Leaders, Study Finds At the 25 public universities with the highest-paid presidents, both student debt and the use of part-time adjunct faculty grew far faster than at the average state university from 2005 to 2012, according to a new study by the Institute for Policy Studies, a left-leaning Washington Read more →
Just got this statement from the U: Minnesota Legislature approves $119.4 million for U of M bonding projects The Minnesota Legislature today approved $119.4 million in state funding for University of Minnesota bonding projects and appropriated additional funds via supplemental finance provisions. “I’d like to thank members of the House and Senate who have been Read more →
Examining New Legislation to Simplify Federal Financial Aid A relatively quick analysis suggests that Sen. Cory Booker’s proposal to raise the automatic zero EFC cutoff to $30,000 wouldn’t substantially change the Pell Grant awards of many students. (Washington Monthly) Who Gets to Graduate? Many high-achieving students from low-income families get to a good college and encounter what should Read more →
University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill and his wife are setting up a fund to pay for training on how to respond to epileptic seizures. Kill suffers from epilepsy, and has missed all or part of some games because of seizures. He says the help he received from his wife, Rebecca, and others during Read more →
The recent campus vigil and remarks by former Gov. Arne Carlson over investigations into the 2004 death of University of Minnesota research patient Dan Markingson have dredged up a long-running question about the case: Has it ever been adequately investigated? The U has stated repeatedly that it has. When asked to lay out its case, Read more →
Senators Intend to Amend Federal Student Privacy Law Senator Edward J. Markey, the Massachusetts Democrat, and Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the Utah Republican, say that law needs to be amended to keep pace with the proliferation of student data that has resulted from increased technology use in schools. (The New York Times) Suicide Suit Involving Read more →
As Study Abroad Reaches New Highs, Some Are Being Left Out Blacks — who make up 13 percent of all students — account for 5 percent of Americans who study abroad, and Hispanics 7.5 percent, compared to their 11 percent share of enrollment overall. (Washington Monthly) Students need an education in sexual assault – before Read more →
U.S. Senator Al Franken is cosponsoring a bill that would enable borrowers to refinance old student loans. The Minnesota Democrat says interest rates as high as 10 percent are one reason graduates carry so much debt. “It’s not good for the economy,” he said. “It prevents Americans from making the kinds of decisions that help Read more →
The Streamlined Life Students clearly feel besieged. There is the perception that life is harder. Certainly their parents think it is harder. The result is that you get a group hardened for battle, more focused on the hard utilitarian things and less focused on spiritual or philosophic things. (The New York Times) An Ivy League Read more →