Why Else Would He Call It a “University”?

…hundreds of pages of legal documents, as well as interviews with former students and instructors, suggest the surveys themselves were a central component of a business model that, according to lawsuits and investigators, deceived consumers,,, Source: At Trump University, Students Recall Pressure to Give Positive Reviews. Here is my take. I’m a former math professor. […]

USA Today Editorial Notes the Tip of the Iceberg

In their lavish facilities, schools show there isn’t much student in student-athlete. Source: College (Wretched Excess) Bowl: Our view I commented. College behavior is far worse than what is described here. I know. I am a former math professor who most recently taught at an “elite” school. Not only does the phrase “student-athlete” need to […]

Prof. Mankiw Has Not a Clue

There are three forces at work that are making college increasingly expensive. So what should we do about it? Source: Three Reasons for Those Hefty College Tuition Bills I posted two comments. I’m a former math professor (I taught at Wash. U. in St. Louis.) and am well aware of the flaw in arguing – […]

 “Meal Plan Costs Tick Upward as Students Pay for More Than Food” They Pay For More Than Education, Too!

Universities are embracing lucrative deals with dining contractors to help pay for campus improvements, but critics say students often pay for them in the rising costs of meal plans. Source: Meal Plan Costs Tick Upward as Students Pay for More Than Food – The New York Times I wrote. I’m a former professor. This is […]

Nationwide Test Shows Dip in Students’ Math Abilities (NY Times)  I Say,  It’s Not Going to Stop Until It’s Stopped

Education officials said the decline in scores was unexpected, but could be related to changes ushered in by the Common Core standards. Source: Nationwide Test Shows Dip in Students’ Math Abilities – The New York Times I commented as follows. The major reason for poor math performance is clear to me. It’s due to unscrupulous […]

An Admissions Surprise (Or a Marketing Ploy?)

Exclusive schools say they want more diversity. Will a new application process really get them there? Source: An Admissions Surprise From the Ivy League – The New York Times I commented. Since my comments use – as examples –  Washington University’s Chancellor Mark Wrighton and Provost Holden Thorp, here are links to closely related stories about […]

Link to Wash. U. Leaders’ Comments on Aid to Low Income Students

This is the copy I uploaded to my blog. Wrighton_Thorp_Pell_2013-11-22_minutes Here is the original link. Search for Thorp to read about his tenure as President at U. of North Carolina.

Who is Scamming Whom?

More U.S. campuses pay agents commissions to find foreign students—illegal when recruiting most Americans—but sometimes get phony applications, ghostwritten essays. Source: American Colleges Pay Agents to Woo Foreigners, Despite Fraud Risk I wrote the following. “Risk of Fraud“? Who is defrauding whom? If higher education wasn’t such a serious matter, it would be funny that […]

Good Essay on Universities Being an Illusion – But It’s Not Because They Don’t Exert Influence Over Teaching. It’s Because They DO!

Source: The Fundamental Way That Universities Are an Illusion – The New York Times I commented. “…When it comes to exerting influence over teaching and learning, [colleges are] Easter eggs. They barely exist…” They do exert an influence. It’s negative. I know. I’m a former math professor. Here is just one example of a college […]