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.
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
And what to do about college students this fall? by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist It has been a rough year for colleges and universities throughout the US, Canada, and, well, everywhere, in fact. Last spring forced the postsecondary sector to rethink how they do their work, much in concert with their K12 brethren. However, higher education at least had the advantage … Continue reading What to do about COVID?
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
by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist We have a chance. COVID-19 has provided an unusual opportunity to rethink how we educate people at the postsecondary level in the United States, if not the world. Let us hope this type of opportunity does not present itself again, but over the next few years, the sheer financial weight associated with the pandemic will cripple … Continue reading Blow It Up?
The Swail Letter on Higher Education 