Author: Educational Policy Institute

The Educational Policy Institute (EPI) is a Virginia-based research think tank on education and the social sciences. EPI conducts evaluation and policy studies on various educational issues from Pre-K to workforce outcomes in the United States, Canada, and beyond. Visit us at educationalpolicy.org.
2019, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes

The Problem with Loan Forgiveness

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Last week, Presidential nominee and Senator Elizabeth Warren called for the cancellation of student loan debt for 42 million borrowers. According to an article by InsideHigherEd.com, this would result in cancelation of $50,000 of loan debt for former students who incomes are less than $100,000 and even provide forgiveness for those with incomes up … Continue reading The Problem with Loan Forgiveness

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2019, admissions, College Access, Student Success

Predictive Modeling for Student Success: A Cautionary Tale

Many colleges and universities continue to turn towards predictive modeling to complement their admissions and enrollment processes. A recent report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario found that 36 percent of respondents from Canadian universities and colleges were using predictive modeling as a way to “improving student retention” and 40 percent said they were considering doing so. Respondents said they used the process to inform their strategies for retention, including support services and individual advising. Continue reading Predictive Modeling for Student Success: A Cautionary Tale

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2019, admissions, College Access

An Admissions Crisis in Hollywood

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute   Everybody’s talking about those celebrities and rich people taking advantage of the system by fraudulently getting their kids into the best schools in the world. We’re talking Yale, Georgetown, Stanford, USC, Wake Forest, and UT Austin. Leading the pack is Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives and Sports Night fame and Lori Loughlin from Full … Continue reading An Admissions Crisis in Hollywood

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2019, Politics, Research/Policy

You Can’t Handle the Truth! When High Profile TV-Types Get the Story Wrong on Education and the Workforce

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy InstituteListen to today’s Swail Letter on iTunes and Soundcloud. I keep a TV on in the office on most days, switching channels depending on the discussion at hand, typically leaving it in mute and sometimes switching to the NHL Channel for a few minutes. Everyone has their vices. Mine are politics and hockey. Yesterday, I was … Continue reading You Can’t Handle the Truth! When High Profile TV-Types Get the Story Wrong on Education and the Workforce

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2019, admissions, Advising, Retention, Student Success

The Lever Principle for Student Success

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Colleges and universities use many varied strategies to reduce turnover and retain students. There exist amply ways to do this across the many divisions and departments, including student and academic services, teaching and learning, financial aid, and others, to encourage student success. I find that most of the institutions that I work with are cognizant … Continue reading The Lever Principle for Student Success

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