ACTA's Must-Reads

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Historical illiteracy...among tour guides?

It's one thing for ACTA to report, as we did in Losing America's Memory, that an alarming number of college graduates are woefully ignorant of basic American History. It is quite another to report, as this article from the Wall Street Journal does, that such unfamiliarity is apparently trickling down into the ranks of the tour guides in Philadelphia--the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the adoption of the US Constitution! While the Journal's piece focuses on the controversy over whether the guides in the City of Brotherly Love should be required to pass a history test, the issue of historical illiteracy is much bigger. Our colleges and universities--most of which do not require American history--must do a better job in rectifying the matter, as those who believe America can remain both ignorant and free expect, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "what never was and never will be."

Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on March 31, 2009 at 04:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here we go again...

They've followed the "speaker controversy" script to a tee at Boston College. You know, the same one that has played out at Nebraska, Columbia, UT-Austin, and on so many other campuses. Someone at the university -- a student group, a professor, or maybe a department -- invites a controversial speaker. Or to be more precise, a speaker to whose views someone, either at the university or nearby, predictably will object. Eventually, the word gets out and the usual brouhaha ensues. After many irate calls, angry letters, and vitriolic emails, the blindsided administration cancels the scheduled talk, citing "security concerns." The pundits weigh in and either chalk up a defeat for free speech or a victory for moral decency. Nothing is settled, nobody really wins, and the stage is set for the same circus to play itself out somewhere else. Even when the ending changes and the university decides to go ahead with the scheduled talk, the debate itself never advances beyond the usual fault lines.

At Boston College, it is William Ayers whose speaking invitation has just been rescinded. The particulars of the controversy surrounding the former Sixties radical turned education professor are only of secondary interest. What really matters is the failure, once again, to distinguish between the wisdom to be exercised in the choice of speakers and the right to speak once an invitation has been extended. As things stand, too many universities ignore the former and fail to uphold the latter.

In recently published pieces in The New Republic and The Philadelphia Inquirer, ACTA has urged universities to develop more comprehensive speaker policies and practices. For starters, we suggested university leaders should collect information on scheduled speakers and then fill in the gaps so as to ensure there is a robust exchange of ideas on campus. That is good advice for any board, not just BC's. In the meantime, rather than give in to the heckler's veto, we exhort boards and administrators to "stand up to outside pressures that diminish students' right to read, listen, speak, and think for themselves." It is a shame that BC -- like many others before it -- has not done this.

Posted by David Azerrad on March 30, 2009 at 04:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Virginia Tech board must protect faculty members' academic freedom

This afternoon, ACTA dispatched an important letter to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. It said, in pertinent part:

The Board of Visitors has plenary authority for the university's promotion and tenure policies. The board is also responsible for safeguarding academic freedom and intellectual pluralism on campus -- the central tenets of the American university and the values underscored by Thomas Jefferson when he outlined the academic's duty to "follow truth wherever it may lead." Given these fiduciary responsibilities, and the well-documented concern that Virginia Tech's current and proposed policies constitute a significant departure from key principles of academic freedom and place the free exchange of ideas at risk, we ask that you call for a full and immediate review -- at the board level -- of all policies relating to tenure, promotion, and diversity.

For details about the policies, see the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education's letter to Virginia Tech's president, which we enclosed with our note to the board. We'll have more about this next week.

Posted by Charles Mitchell on March 27, 2009 at 06:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hasta la vista to a few degrees

The University of Georgia's student newspaper reported last week that the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved a request from the University Council to terminate 12 degrees that have low enrollment and produce few graduates. Whether this welcome trimming will be offset by the creation of any new degree programs, the article does not say. The Regents should nonetheless be praised for responding to the changing needs of students and improving the allocation of resources, in particular at a time when universities are feeling the pinch.

In our state report cards, the ratio of new programs to closed programs is one of the seven measures we use to evaluate a university's efforts to contain costs and increase effectiveness. In our report on public higher education in the Peach State, the USG received an "F" in this category. In the two-year period we surveyed, the university created 139 new programs but only closed 21.

Posted by David Azerrad on March 26, 2009 at 02:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Lake Wobegon-ization of higher ed

As in Garrison Keillor's fictional utopia, the upward trend of the grades at America's colleges and universities seem to suggest that all the children are indeed above average. In an article for the Christian Science Monitor, former Duke professor Stuart Rojstaczer notes recent studies that show nearly half of college students spend more time drinking than studying. Notably, these students aren't paying for it on their transcripts. Instead, average grades have been steadily rising for about 40 years. While these might be dismal statistics for those concerned with academic rigor and integrity, Rojstaczer notes that some institutions have taken the difficult step of limiting A grades and lowering average GPAs.

ACTA has been writing about grade inflation for some time, starting with our publication Degraded Currency and continuing with our recent trustee guide Measuring Up -- which profiles a number of institutions that have tried to address grade inflation. Rojstaczer has done yeoman's work researching and documenting this phenomenon on his website GradeInflation.com, and we hope that his message will continue to get a wide hearing, especially among those in a position to do something about it.

Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on March 26, 2009 at 10:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Professional integrity in Maryland

The top story on Inside Higher Ed today details the defeat of a post-tenure review proposal at the University of Maryland at College Park. Both the IHE article and ACTA research fellow Erin O'Connor's commentary on her blog, Critical Mass, are must-reads. As Erin points out, ACTA recently wrote on this issue in Academe, the magazine of the American Association of University Professors.

Posted by Charles Mitchell on March 25, 2009 at 02:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Not censoring is not enough

Today's Washington Post reports on the return of the Sex Workers' Art Show to the College of William & Mary, where it has been highly controversial. But this time, there's a twist: At the behest of William & Mary president Taylor Reveley, this year's iteration will be accompanied by "a forum that would address the show and the issues it raises." This move seems to be along the lines of ACTA's recommendations in today's Philadelphia Inquirer, where we survey recent speaker-related controversies in Pennsylvania and urge universities to be more thoughtful about whom they bring in to speak.

In recent weeks, the Keystone State has seen a pair of kerfuffles in light of visits by Ward Churchill and William Ayers to public campuses. As often happens, the discussion over these speakers devolved into an argument over whether they should be disinvited or not -- and the presidents and deans involved have gone to great lengths to explain why they have let the invitations stand. As our op-ed points out, they were right not to disinvite these duly-invited guests. But their obligation to the public doesn't end there: The mere fact that they aren't censoring the speakers doesn't mean they are doing all they can to ensure students have access to a broad mix of ideas that is conducive to a real education.

That is why our op-ed urges universities to follow the lead of Bucknell University, whose administration has -- with the assistance of donors -- taken bold steps to bring in a number of high-profile experts with diverse views, including ACTA friend David McCullough. We also suggest that administrators should simply collect information on the speaking invitations issued by other campus constituencies, so that they can augment those offerings with other perspectives that might be missing. One idea we proffer: If Ward Churchill is on his way, convene a faculty panel the next night on academic responsibility.

Posted by Charles Mitchell on March 23, 2009 at 05:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Change at UDC

Those who have been following this blog surely have read about the winds of change coming to the University of the District of Columbia. Allen L. Sessoms, the former president of Queen's College of the City University of New York, assumed the presidency of UDC this past September and has since pushed the creation of a two-campus system geared toward providing accessibility as well as instituting college-level admissions standards. ACTA praised the move and commended the UDC Board of Trustees for supporting these reforms. Now, Kathleen M. Pesile, a trustee of CUNY and the chairman of ACTA's Institute for Effective Governance, has penned an op-ed in the Washington Post lending her support for UDC's leadership at this crucial moment, noting how similar measures helped CUNY's remarkable turnaround. And she also points to what she calls "the lesson of CUNY's renaissance":

When endowments are tumbling and families face acute financial pressures, more of the "same old, same old" simply doesn't cut it: It doesn't inspire confidence in our universities and it doesn't attract those increasingly rare philanthropic dollars. Bold, well-informed leadership--in the form of presidents who will challenge the status quo where needed, and boards who will stick with them--does.

UDC's board seems to have learned this lesson. May others follow.

Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on March 23, 2009 at 02:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Unread monographs, uninspired undergrads"

Today's Inside Higher Ed features an insightful story on a new study by ACTA friend Mark Bauerlein, a professor of English at Emory University. The gist of Mark's study is something he has been saying at ACTA gatherings and elsewhere for some years: Most professors have the incentive to focus more on research than teaching and student interaction, even as there is less and less of a market for most of the research. Meanwhile, students suffer. Mark understands and explains the lives of faculty members like few others, and his argument deserves to be taken seriously.

Posted by Charles Mitchell on March 18, 2009 at 03:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Praise where praise is due

Two pieces of good news from higher education. First, the News & Observer of Raleigh reports that the University of North Carolina system president Erskine Bowles has decided to review the issue of grade inflation. It is good to see administrations and trustees taking action to address the devaluation of an American college degree. ACTA encourages him and the Board of Governors to take into account our recent trustee guide, Measuring Up.

Second, a report from the Chronicle of Higher Education indicates that the board of the Colorado State University system has declined to hire a search firm to help in its search for a new chancellor. Not only will this action save the university at least $100,000, it will also allow them to search for candidates who can think "outside the box" and are not wedded to the status quo. ACTA commends the CSU trustees and points them to our trustee guide, Selecting a New President.

Posted by Noah Mamis on March 13, 2009 at 02:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Boosting graduation rates

Baccalaureate graduation rates in America are one of the most disheartening aspects of higher education. The national six-year graduation rate -- for all four-year programs, mind you -- is 56.1percent. So bad is the situation that the Department of Education does not even keep four-year statistics. As ACTA has emphasized the importance of tending to these woefully low graduation rates in our state report cards (here and here), we applaud the news that the University of Colorado regents are discussing how to improve CU's 67 percent six-year rate -- which they remark is below that of their peer schools. As we noted in our Georgia report card, acknowledging the problem is the first step to addressing it.

Posted by David Azerrad on March 13, 2009 at 12:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cutting costs -- or not -- in Pennsylvania

The current Chronicle of Higher Education contains a piece by the chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Dr. John C. Cavanaugh. Dr. Cavanaugh's article is full of disappointing logical fallacies. First, Cavanaugh sets up a straw man, suggesting that overpaid presidents and other such matters are the only real criticisms leveled at higher ed these days, when in fact the problem is of far greater magnitude, namely, that students are paying more and more while they are getting less and less. Cavanaugh's claims of increased quality, moreover, are hard to substantiate -- accreditation status surely is not the best metric for determining quality since it sets a very low bar. Finally, Cavanaugh implies that because costs -- as he has defined them -- have come down, there is no need for further cuts or evaluation. Surely, this logical error should be readily apparent.

Rather than making excuses, isn't it time for PASSHE's Board of Governors and the chancellor to redouble their efforts to ensure that students receive the low-cost, high-quality education they deserve?

Posted by Noah Mamis on March 13, 2009 at 10:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Accountability needed

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation sent out earlier this week the second in its series of "Federal Updates," reporting on the regulatory process following the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act last summer. At the accreditation committee's first meeting last week, the Department of Education proposed adding to the agenda a discussion of whether a larger role should be created on accreditation decision-making bodies for constituencies external to higher education and whether accreditors changing their standards should reach out more broadly for input from outside the university. These would seem to be sensible questions, worthy of -- at the very least -- discussion. But unfortunately, the committee voted not even to consider the questions. Furthermore, there seems to be no room for trustees in the accreditation discussion. While the higher ed establishment claims they fear expanded regulation, we suspect what really scares them is public accountability and challenges to the status quo.

Posted by Noah Mamis on March 12, 2009 at 04:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Racial tension on campus

One simmering debate in the higher education community is over the usefulness of so-called diversity or affinity groups. An article in the current issue of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, discusses the drawbacks of ethnically-based cultural centers, Greek organizations, and even dormitories. The article cites the study "The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus" by Dr. James Sidanius, a Harvard professor of African-American studies, which alleges that "Once students joined these organizations, it increased their own ethnic identification and gave students the feeling that they were being ethnically victimized by other student groups."

There is a place for ethnically-based organizations on campus, but we should bear in mind the recommendations of the report of the Bradley Project on America's National Identity, E Pluribus Unum, which reminds us that:

It is fine if we all together celebrate our mutual differences--E Pluribus Unum with the Pluribus alive and well--but it can be a problem if each group just nurtures its own difference--Pluribus without the Unum... While appreciating the benefits of diversity, Americans should affirm their commitment to national unity, a shared culture, a common language, and defining ideals. ... Universities, businesses, and civic institutions should avoid policies and arrangements that may tend to stereotype and divide Americans.

Posted by Noah Mamis on March 10, 2009 at 03:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Don't know much about the economy

After appearing on the FOX Business Network yesterday to discuss the dearth of economics requirement at major universities, ACTA president Anne D. Neal has a piece on the subject in today's DC Examiner. Drawing on ACTA's survey of 100 leading universities, which found that only the University of Alaska in Fairbanks has an economics requirement, Neal calls on trustees "to make sure the voters and leaders of tomorrow possess the foundational knowledge necessary to make sense of a complex world and respond to future challenges." Those who wonder what the big deal is should read Erin O'Connor and Maurice Black's piece (first on Minding the Campus, then in Newsday) on the widespread economic illiteracy among young Americans.

Posted by David Azerrad on March 10, 2009 at 01:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

UDC reform: full speed ahead

A few weeks ago, ACTA praised the efforts of University of the District of Columbia president Allen Sessoms to bring substantial reform to the struggling institution. And as the Washington Post reports today, Sessoms is continuing to make good on his promise to raise academic standards and integrity. His next target is the undergraduate Education department, which is now marked for elimination. The program has been plagued with abysmal graduation rates and low academic achievement, and Sessoms plans to replace it with a free Master's program in urban education. Under this new arrangement, prospective teachers would be majoring in the academic subjects that they will teach, thus giving a renewed focus on the content of elementary and secondary education. This should be a model for teacher training throughout the country, not just at UDC.

ACTA has argued in our state higher education report cards that failed academic programs should be terminated rather than waste precious resources. Given the utter failure of the UDC undergraduate education program to prepare teachers with even the bare minimum of skills needed to teach in K-12 classrooms, such action is painful but necessary in this case. The trustees of UDC should continue to stand by President Sessoms as he moves the university forward.

Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on March 09, 2009 at 04:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Economic literacy hits the headlines and airwaves

Don't miss the column in today's Newsday by ACTA research fellows Erin O'Connor and Maurice Black on economic illiteracy and our colleges. And tune into the Fox Business Network this afternoon at 1:50 ET, when ACTA president Anne D. Neal will be discussing this issue live.

UPDATE: Here is ACTA's appearance on Fox:

Posted by Charles Mitchell on March 09, 2009 at 12:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Social change versus the classics

Robin Wilson's story in today's Chronicle of Higher Education is worth reading for its insights on the attitudes towards teaching and learning that dominate the contemporary academy. According to UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute, which surveyed 22,562 professors in a range of disciplines at 372 institutions throughout the country, nearly 60 percent of professors today view teaching students to become "agents of social change" as very important or essential, compared to roughly a third who rank the teaching of the classics of Western civilization the same way.

This finding is noteworthy for trustees for a number of reasons. While the goals of professors are important indeed, our institutions of higher education must answer ultimately to the public's need for informed citizens. And it is up to boards to make sure this public purpose is paramount. While meticulously respecting the academic freedom of professors to design and offer courses, trustees must ensure that students are given a strong liberal education that encourages them to think for themselves. The fact is, on too many campuses, students have reported feeling intimidated -- and actually been punished -- for questioning politically correct orthodoxies.

Even as their institutions hold out hope of educating the next Paine or Gandhi, trustees should take care to protect free speech and free thought. Academic freedom is bestowed on professors so that they can pursue truth wherever it may lead. That means, first and foremost, using the classroom for teaching and learning, not as a launching pad for political activism.

Posted by Anne D. Neal on March 05, 2009 at 05:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Students before endowments

Business Week economics editor Peter Coy has issued a strong call for universities to end the endowment arms race -- which, he argues, shortchanges today's students. Coy suggests universities "should act more like companies, which somehow manage to operate without endowments" and concludes by reminding trustees: "You're supposed to be running a service business, not piling up a treasure."

Coy's call to shift the focus back to students echoes the argument made by Edward Costikyan in an essay issued by ACTA. In the piece, Costikyan, a Columbia University trustee emeritus, calls on boards to increase their spending of endowment income in order to "reduce tuition and loans."

With an ever greater number of American families feeling the pinch as the economy worsens, trustees should listen to Coy and Costikyan and make sure they put students before endowments.

Posted by David Azerrad on March 03, 2009 at 05:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Santa Clara student: don't downgrade the West

For the past few decades, it has not been uncommon for American universities to take what had been the heart of a liberal education, the core curriculum, and strip it of its coherence and purpose. Now, a sophomore classics major at Santa Clara University is saying--via an op-ed in the student newspaper--that SCU will be the next institution to water down its general education program. The author, Morgan Hunter, criticizes the new curriculum for replacing the Western culture requirement with a two part "cultures and ideas" sequence that specifically de-emphasizes the West. Although writing from the perspective of a student at a Jesuit university, Hunter's words about the importance of the humanities and the study of Western civilization should resonate at all institutions of higher education. As ACTA wrote in Becoming an Educated Person and The Hollow Core, the liberal arts core curriculum is a necessity for the cultivation of a thoughtful and well-rounded citizenry. Judging by this article, students seem to understand this--and trustees ought to take note.

Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on March 02, 2009 at 05:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack