The Aftermath
By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute On Wednesday I reported on the early outcomes from the U.S. election. At that time I stated that it wasn’t quite the “tsunami” that some had predicted. In hindsight, I guess it was. Montana trickled over, and then so toppled George Allen in Virginia. In the end, the Democrats took over the House AND the … Continue reading The Aftermath
Do We Know What to Do?
By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute This has been a busy week for educational researchers and for EPI. Two major conferences are happening as I write this commentary: the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) in Anaheim, California, and the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC) in Washington, DC. Both deal, in part, to expanding access and success at the … Continue reading Do We Know What to Do?
Cosby and the Engineering Kids
By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute NOTE: This post was written in 2006, far before the more recent failings of Mr. Cosby (January 17, 2019, WSS) This week I had the honor of attending a fundraising gala in New York City for the National Action Council on Minorities in Engineering, better known as NACME. If you don’t know them, you may … Continue reading Cosby and the Engineering Kids
Increasing Student Success
By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute I write this week’s commentary from beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina, where we are hosting our fall Retention Retreat. Not a bad gig, I must say. Most interesting is to hear stories from our participants, who hail from over 25 institutions across the US and Canada, from two-year, four-year, and proprietary institutions. This is the … Continue reading Increasing Student Success
An Early End to Early Admissions
By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Among the big news in higher education this week (apart from the 10 percent plan in Texas which I don’t have time to get to) was Harvard’s announcement, followed quickly by Princeton (not to be outdone), to dump the Early Decision/Early Action admissions programs. Early decision/action programs have been in vogue for the past decade, … Continue reading An Early End to Early Admissions
The Swail Letter on Higher Education 