Filter & Sort
Grading and Choosing
You know that feeling when you’ve suspected something for a long time but couldn’t prove it, and then someone proves it for you? This article had that effect. It’s about how student attrition in STEM majors is actually higher in more selective institutions than in less selective ones. It brought back vivid memories of my days at Snooty Liberal Arts College, and even of late high school.
Notes from an Emergency
We were lucky. We were only without power and heat for five days.
Trading Papers
What if Professors Smith and Jones swapped papers for a semester? I’d be intrigued to hear from anyone who has actually tried this.
Friday Fragments
Last weekend we went pumpkin-picking, and then stopped for lunch. I ordered a Blue Moon with my burger, which, to my surprise, came with a slice of orange on the glass.
What Else Is To Be Done?
Lenin famously asked “what is to be done?” The relevant question now is slightly different.
The Tortoise and the Hare
As a veteran of many an industry advisory board meeting, this report really didn’t surprise me. A study from the National Bureau for Economic Research says that the income gains from specifically vocational majors (as opposed to liberal arts majors) peter out relatively early in life.
The Cutting Edge May Not Be Where You Expect
Academics have a weakness for the latest cutting-edge innovations. It’s kind of what we do. And in many cases, that’s a good thing. This week, though, I’ve seen two older ideas come back as new solutions to current issues. They’ve both been out of fashion long enough that they actually seem new, even though they’re anything but.
The Faculty-Staff Divide
A thoughtful correspondent wrote last week to express concern about what she perceived as a growing rift between faculty and...