How Parent Borrowing Makes College Possible — at a Steep Price — for Black Families
The scale of this debt is remarkable. It’s not a little bit bigger. The amount black parents are taking on is proportionately enormous.
The Weekly Dispatch
11 posts
A weekly newsletter about the role of higher education in society, exposing failures and examining solutions. Plus, updates as we build Open Campus.
Under the Spell of Meritocracy
Debates about meritocracy and college are in the air this fall.
The Poor Are Getting Poorer. Professors Can Stop Making It Worse.
This chemistry professor believes everybody can get an A. First, faculty need to change their attitudes.
This One University Enrolls More Pell Students Than the Whole Ivy League
How well are colleges moving people up social and economic ladders? And are we paying enough attention?
The Surprisingly High Cost of Our Public Flagship Universities — At Least for Most Americans
Make $167,000 a year? Then you can afford your state’s public flagship university. Otherwise … This newsletter, the Open Campus Weekly Dispatch, tackles higher education’s role in society. Sign up here.…
Resentment Starts With Campus Parking — It Doesn’t End There
Is college a scam? Read a fascinating thread about why people think so. Also, a new book examines the impact of student debt on families.
Reflections From Our Trip Down the Mississippi
We took ourselves back to school on our Back-To-School Road Trip from Minneapolis to New Orleans. Here’s what we learned, who we met, and some bonus travel tips.
The Difference Between a College Town and a Town with Colleges
We’re on the road. Our first stops are in Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, where we’re talking with people about the role of college in their lives and neighborhoods.
What Do College Accountability Metrics Really Tell Us Anyway?
We’re not being very thoughtful about how we judge how much good a college is doing — for students or for society.
Most People Go to College Close to Home. What If There Isn’t One Nearby?
More than one in two public-college students go to college within 50 miles of home. What does that mean for rural America?