Outside the Beltway

Combining universal and mandatory (and free) college-board exams with a program for targeting college recruitment of disadvantaged groups could–if coupled with a commensurate financial commitment by the state to such groups–go some distance in bringing more qualified economically disadvantaged groups into higher education. 

The Senate passed a tax cut bill last night, but it leaves a lot to be desired.

Musings on the costs of college.

Judge Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearings begin Monday morning, but it’s Senate Democrats who are in the hot seat.

DeVos plays to the CPAC crowd, but insults higher education.

Bernie Sanders admitted, finally, that he likely won’t be the nominee.

More accurately, some thoughts on commentary about higher ed.

In the short term, Justice Scalia’s death will have a significant impact on cases the Supreme Court has already heard, and cases it is scheduled to hear in the next two months.

Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio have won the endorsement of the Des Moines Register, but it’s unclear how much this will help their respective campaigns.

Paradoxically, the children of affluent parents are less happy than those of the poor.

Massive boycotts and protests likely spell the end of Tim Wolfe’s tenure as president.

One unqualified outsider with a history of saying outrageous things replaces another unqualified outsider with a history of saying outrageous things, at least according to yet another new poll.

Two new Iowa polls show Ben Carson passing Donald Trump in the Hawkeye State, but that’s not necessarily good news for Republicans.

Instead of eliminating the Department of Education, Ben Carson wants to give it a new, bizarre, and dangerous mission.

The marriage equality issue is resolved, but that doesn’t mean the Supreme Court won’t have a lot of high profile cases on its docket over the next eight months.

International relations prof mostly assign readings by male scholars. Female profs are slightly less likely to do so.

The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to wade back into the thorny issue of race and higher education.

Lee Siegel takes to the NYT to explain “Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans.”

A wealthy alumnus has given Harvard $400 million, sparking a heated debate.

One more on this topic.

After months of “not running,” Jeb Bush will formally enter the Presidential race on June 15th.

I have been reading, mostly in passing, a number of pieces about an alleged new climate on college campuses in which students are raising significant complaints due to difficult or emotionally sensitive material. The latest example did not impress me.

Bernie Sanders is running for President. He’s not going to win, but he’s not running because he thinks he can win.

Another commentary on the National Security Strategy, this one at The Hill.

Their places are being filled by students who pay higher tuition rates.

While it’s been much derided in recent years, there’s a definite economic benefit to obtaining a college degree,

The Affirmative Action debate is too divisive and largely misses the point.

The Supreme Court may have just found a way to end the debate over Affirmative Action in education.

Fifth Amendment? They don’t need no Fifth Amendment, apparently.

Nick Brown spelled bullshit and managed to debunk an entire academic subfield.

The iconic football program built by the legendary Eddie Robinson, is now a sad disgrace.

Should states have the right to ban affirmative action? The Supreme Court will decide that this term.

Bob McDonnell is not the first Old Dominion chief executive to supplement their income while in office.

Jerry Brown’s second go-round as governor has been very, very good to the Golden State.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action in education didn’t go as far as many thought it would, but it’s future in the near-term seems fairly clear.

Darrell Issa’s Committee seems headed for a battle over the Fifth Amendment.

A top IRS official will reportedly invoke her 5th Amendment rights rather than testify before Congress tomorrow.

Tuition goes up as state funding goes down.

The economics of higher education is increasing the gap between rich and poor.

The economy has been steadily recovering from the Great Recession. But the jobs may never come back.

Calls for more American kids to pursue STEM careers ignores the hiring realities.

The main who coined the word “meritocracy” meant it as a pejorative term.

Applications to America’s Law Schools are down, because the nature of the legal profession is changing.