The hottest Higher Ed Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Michael D. Smith's False Prophecy for Higher Education

The Recovering Academic • 554 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Teaching Online Learning
  1. Higher education is facing challenges of scarcity in access, instruction, and credentials, leading to market power exploitation by institutions.
  2. The proposed shift towards digital education may widen the class divide in higher education rather than solving existing problems.
  3. The current trend in education, as proposed by Michael D. Smith, risks devaluing PhDs and academic jobs, leading to a potential collapse of the system.

Hillsdale and the N=1 Problem

Aaron Renn • 746 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Leadership Replication Success Stories
  1. Hillsdale College's unique success story is hard to replicate by other colleges.
  2. Some successful models, like Hillsdale, are challenging to copy due to unique leadership and historical factors.
  3. Creating models like Hillsdale or other successful entities requires singular leaders and specific conditions that are not easily reproduced elsewhere.

The crisis of higher education is worse than you think

White Hot Harlots • 3 HN points • 23 Apr 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. The poor state of students' mental health and academic achievement in higher education is not primarily due to identity issues or campus protests, but rather stems from decades of mismanagement.
  2. Higher education institutions are facing severe challenges such as overwhelming class sizes, underpaid contingent faculty, and a shift towards standardized, impersonal tech-driven teaching methods.
  3. Students are grappling with a lack of basic computer skills due to the appification of technology, lack of access to computer labs, and centralization of teaching methods leading to a decline in understanding fundamental concepts.

We should remove electives from higher education

The Novelleist • 912 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. Some universities are considering removing electives from bachelor degrees to reduce tuition cost and completion time.
  2. The traditional liberal arts education model is being challenged, advocating for more vocational-focused education.
  3. Online and asynchronous degree programs are making education more accessible and affordable for students worldwide.

Introspection Before Any Possible Course Correction

Heterodox STEM • 291 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Freedom of Speech Public Trust
  1. Listening to the Congressional testimony on free speech exposed a lack of consistent application of concepts at universities.
  2. Public trust in higher education has significantly declined based on surveys due to real or perceived failures of universities.
  3. Universities facing public backlash have responded defensively rather than engaging in introspection, potentially leading to further erosion of trust.
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Out-of-State Tuition Is Out of this World

Bet On It • 130 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Subsidies
  1. About 75% of American college students attend public schools, yet out-of-state tuition is significantly higher than in-state tuition, with an average ratio of 3:1.
  2. The significant price gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition is primarily due to massive subsidies by state governments for in-state students, making out-of-state tuition competitive rather than monopolistic.
  3. Despite concerns about high college costs, state governments contribute about two-thirds of the total cost for public colleges through various subsidies, making higher education more socialist than commonly perceived.

Self-Hating Signaling

Bet On It • 654 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. The primary purpose of education is signaling to potential employers.
  2. Elite schools are sacrificing their elitist signaling mission for a secondary mission of charity, diluting the value of their degrees.
  3. U.S. News and World Report's revised ranking formula is obfuscating the trade-off between merit and philanthropy, redefining philanthropy as merit.

Private thread: Are Profpreneurs Good for Students?

The Recovering Academic • 197 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Teaching
  1. Professors in higher education may allocate teaching resources in a way that doesn't prioritize student demand, which can impact the quality of education.
  2. There can be a disconnect between faculty expertise and student interest in niche subjects, leading to limited access for students.
  3. The current system may not provide enough incentives for professors to focus on delivering a quality education to their students.

Free Speech on College Campuses

The Future of Education • 491 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Free speech Academic Freedom Podcasts Online Education
  1. In the dialogue on college campuses, there is a need to broaden perspectives and engage in deeper conversations to foster resilience.
  2. University leaders should maintain neutrality on controversial issues, creating an environment for open debate without imposing specific viewpoints.
  3. Higher education institutions should focus on developing students' abilities to engage with complexity, debate ideas, and build humility for better societal cohesion.

Goff on the Cost Disease

Bet On It • 140 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Economics Healthcare Higher Ed
  1. Prices and expenditures in medical care need to account for quality and income levels
  2. Healthcare services have improved in quality over the years, impacting prices
  3. Education has evolved into a consumption-driven industry with a demand for the 'college experience'

University administrators have forgotten what leadership is

The Recovering Academic • 415 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🚌 Education Leadership Administration Higher Ed University
  1. University administrators are being criticized for forgetting what true leadership entails, especially in the field of academia.
  2. Leaders in higher education should prioritize trust, respect, and shared risk with faculty and staff for effective leadership.
  3. Lessons from military history, like trusting and respecting subordinates, can offer valuable insights into effective leadership practices in academia.

The Update

The Discourse Lounge • 987 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed Writing
  1. The author is finishing university and will soon graduate with a bachelor's in Computer Science.
  2. There will be a shift to weekly publication of 1-2 articles after graduation, focusing on housing, transit, and census data updates.
  3. Exclusive content will be available for subscribers, so it's a good time to subscribe for those interested.

Spurring Student Success

The Future of Education • 58 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Innovation
  1. Student success efforts in college campuses are crucial, especially with concerns about completion rates and student retention.
  2. Engaging learners post-pandemic involves innovation in high school education, such as dual enrollment and integrating internships.
  3. Institutions need to focus on providing tangible value to students, addressing cost structures, and prioritizing student success in a changing higher education landscape.

The Inauguration of Laura Rosenbury

Imperfect Information • 39 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Free speech Higher Ed Protests Free speech Leadership Education
  1. Laura Rosenbury was inaugurated as the ninth president of Barnard College after already being on the job for seven months.
  2. The past few months on campus have been tumultuous with protests, changes in policies, and reactions from various organizations.
  3. President Rosenbury faces challenges in leading the institution due to pressures from different groups, but her commitment to her role and the community is evident.

Welcome to The Recovering Academic

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🚌 Education Writing Career transition Higher Ed Coaching
  1. The Recovering Academic newsletter offers exclusive interviews, essays, poetry, and resources for writers.
  2. Paying subscribers get access to behind-the-scenes interviews, thought pieces on higher ed, personal essays, and craft resources.
  3. Joshua Dolezal, the writer behind the newsletter, has 20 years of experience, has published a memoir, and co-produced a podcast.

The Work of MrBeast University

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 137 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. The article discusses the concept of MrBeast University as a possible future for higher education.
  2. The publication is an investment in critical thought and nuanced discourse about the world of work.
  3. Paid subscribers empower and sustain the publication by actively supporting it.

Younger Faculty Are Leaning Out. Is That a Bad Thing?

The Recovering Academic • 178 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed Work-life balance Mentorship
  1. Young faculty members, like Sarah Trocchio, are facing challenges with work-life balance and feeling undervalued in academia, leading some to consider leaving the field.
  2. Sarah Trocchio's experience highlights the importance of aligning personal values with professional standards in academia to prevent burnout and disengagement.
  3. The future of higher education may depend on early-career faculty like Sarah Trocchio advocating for clearer work/life boundaries and self-care to prevent exploitation and burnout.

Universities need to deal with trainee compensation

Science Forever • 159 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🚌 Education Compensation Unionization Higher Ed
  1. Universities are facing challenges regarding the compensation of their trainees, leading to unionization efforts.
  2. Graduate students are advocating for fair compensation as they contribute significantly to research efforts and are considered full-time employees.
  3. The financial strain on universities due to demands for better compensation for graduate students is a significant issue in higher education.

Why Universities and Professors Won’t Go Away Anytime Soon

Mimir's Well • 78 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🚌 Education AI Value Universities Higher Ed
  1. Generative AI will disrupt education by impacting the value of university degrees and increasing alternative credentialing options.
  2. Professors bring irreplaceable value to students through curriculum design, domain knowledge, pedagogy, mentoring, and career guidance.
  3. Universities offer unique value like the college experience, credentialing, career training, alumni networks, and extracurricular activities that AI cannot replicate.

Books: The Credential Society

Bullfish Hole • 98 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. College degrees may not necessarily provide concrete career training but are more about certifying desirable traits.
  2. Credential inflation drives the value of degrees down and leads to competition for higher credentials.
  3. Education has become a form of pseudoethnicity defining social class, and the future may see a contraction in higher education due to changing dynamics.

Demise of the Pac-12, Campus Spending, and DeSantis at Yale

The Future of Education • 19 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed Innovation Schools Parenting
  1. Colleges are facing financial challenges as federal funding decreases and there's pressure to bring in more revenue, even impacting athletic programs like the Pac-12.
  2. Many colleges are criticized for excessive spending that doesn't align with providing value to students, contributing to the overall cost crisis in higher education.
  3. It's important to rethink incentives and challenge the idea that spending more equates to delivering a better education at colleges.

STEM teaching deserves recognition

Science Forever • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🚌 Education STEM Teaching Higher Ed Workforce Recognition
  1. Recognizing STEM teaching as a distinct workforce is important for addressing issues like racism, sexism, misconduct, and underrepresentation in the science field.
  2. Institutions struggle to balance the value of research and teaching, often favoring research in resource allocation and decision-making.
  3. Defining undergraduate teaching staff as a separate workforce could improve governance, professional development opportunities, and evaluation criteria, ultimately benefiting both educators and institutions in the long run.