Category: College Access

2022, College Access, K12, Politics, Research/Policy, Student Success

College Access, Equity, and the Tower of Babel

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist NOTE: I wrote this before learning of the brutal elementary school shooting in Texas this week. Much of what I write here, about left and right, also applies to our inability to do anything about gun safety and control in the US. The tragedies will continue, unfortunately. I recently read Jonathan Haidt’s piece in The Atlantic, … Continue reading College Access, Equity, and the Tower of Babel

Educational Policy Institute2 Comments
2021, admissions, College Access, College Affordability, Research/Policy, Retention, Student Success

Does Money Trump Academics? No.

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist I received an email from EAB this morning that proclaimed “Financial pressure is the top reason that students leave college,” complete with a link to how technology can help. Then I paused. I’m not going to say that EAB is wrong on this. Financial pressures, let alone ability to pay, are significant barriers to postsecondary access … Continue reading Does Money Trump Academics? No.

Educational Policy Institute1 Comment
2021, College Access, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy

Equating an Education with the Cost of an Automobile

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist Today’s InsideHigherEd.com article, “Promoting Financial Transparency for Students,” focused on new legislation in Congress to make the cost of higher education more transparent and simpler to understand. The article quoted Laura Keane of uAspire, a non-profit, saying that “When you buy a car, you walk up to a car and you see a window sticker that … Continue reading Equating an Education with the Cost of an Automobile

Educational Policy Institute1 Comment
2021, College Access, Research/Policy, Student Success

A Brief Primer on College Success Programs—Challenges and Successes

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist During my career, I have evaluated dozens of college access programs and worked with hundreds of practitioners on improving their programs and measuring efficacy. These programs are in operation because the academic system, from pre-K to graduate/professional school, is slanted to those who have the wherewithal, both financially and academically, to navigate elementary, secondary, and postsecondary … Continue reading A Brief Primer on College Success Programs—Challenges and Successes

Educational Policy Institute1 Comment
2020, College Access, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes, Workforce

Skills Versus Degrees: The Administration Got This One Right

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that would allow the federal government to hire by merit rather than by degree. “Degree-based hiring is especially likely to exclude qualified candidates for jobs related to emerging technologies and those with weak connections between educational attainment and the skills or competencies required to perform them. … Continue reading Skills Versus Degrees: The Administration Got This One Right

Educational Policy Institute2 Comments