Topics:

The Future of Online Learning

Second:  Open Educational Resources (OER)

News Story:

2024 IHE survey of college presidents and constructive guidance.

You can never tell when Drs. Stocker and Pellerito will agree, but you'll want to listen to the one NEW thing they agree on in this week's podcast.
Hint:  It is NOT HLC or other accrediting agencies.

Are topics this week include: 

1. Is there a college collapse coming this Fall  ?
2. Gary’s favorite punching bag:  accrediting agencies
3. Waiting too long can doom a college merger, experts say
4. Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About ChatGPT?

Joseph is keeping the 'good points' score this week.  We'll have to see how reasonable he is. ;) 

Gary talks about how college presidents are like Tevye from 'Fiddler on the Roof'.  Dr. P. says ' get over it' with college students using AI; and Gary makes himself a college president for 10 minutes.

And, in the 'Good Points' score, there is a big winner.

Here are the topics and news stories for this week.

1. Are we heading toward a FAFSA-induced closing catastrophe this Fall.  
2. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Prevention 
3. Education Department eyes widespread student debt relief in draft rules
4. No cause for worry about UWGB, chancellor says

The April 11, 2024 College Counterpoints podcasts starts off with a reference to colleges being eclipsed into darkness.  Only one of us believes that to be true.  You can probably guess which one.

Our topics, stories, debates, and discussions today:

• Colleges that are buyers (most of them) and colleges that are sellers.  Those are terms created by Jeff Selingo.
• BestColleges.com comes out with a story and list of closed, closing, and merging colleges
• Lesley U faculty are good at no-confidence votes.  If only they could graduate more than 50% of their students
• The alarming number of students from closed colleges that do NOT return to college.

I know who won the 'good points' score, but you will have to listen to the podcast to find out for yourself.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

• Half of graduates end up underemployed
• College closures ‘en masse’ - so says a college president
• Faculty are good at protesting. JP takes me off of his Christmas Card list
• JP has some ideas on college safety.

Our sponsors are College Viability, LLC and Harmony Cubed

This week's episode takes us to the family kitchen table where the discussion is about colleges to choose.  Joseph and Gary also chat about college ambulance chasers, the EY-Parthenon Institutional Viability Metric, and the business side of collateralizing college property.  Finally, the jousting duo speculate on the impact of the FAFSA delays.

Summary

In this episode of College Counterpoints, Dr. Gary Stocker and Dr. Joseph Pellerito Jr. discuss the importance of academic freedom, the public's trust in higher education, consolidation in the industry, college leadership, and the issues with the FAFSA application. They engage in a lively debate and emphasize the need for transparency and ethical decision-making in higher education. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities in the current landscape.

Takeaways

• Academic freedom is crucial for fostering innovation, critical thinking, and intellectual integrity in higher education.
• Transparency and ethical decision-making are essential for building trust in higher education institutions.
• Consolidation and closures are inevitable in the higher education industry, and a coordinated approach is needed to ensure a smooth transition and protect students' interests.
• The FAFSA application process needs to be improved to prevent further disruptions and ensure access to financial aid for students.

Chapters

Introduction 00:00

The Importance of Academic Freedom  00:39

The Public's Trust in Higher Education  09:30

Consolidation in Higher Education  14:06

The FAFSA Fiasco  24:41

Closing Remarks  28:14

The March 7th episode includes topic discussions on DEI and the self-fulfilling prophecy risk colleges face when they have to announce they are in dire financial straights.

Our two news stories are doing the math on a $38 million deficit at Columbia College (IL) and the faculty at Manhattan College (NY) feel betrayed.

The "Good Points" score is 5 to 3.  Listen to the podcast to see which of us wins.  

In this episode of College Counterpoints, Gary Stocker and Joseph Pellerito Jr. discuss various topics related to higher education. Here is a summary of the key points:

1. Notre Dame College Closure: Notre Dame College has announced its closure, following a pattern of smaller private colleges facing financial challenges. The hosts discuss the likelihood of more closures in the future, emphasizing the need for colleges to adopt best practices in managing downward enrollments and preparing students for such situations.
2. College Viability App: The hosts mention using a "College Viability App" to analyze data on Notre Dame College and similar institutions, highlighting the financial and enrollment challenges faced by many private non-profit colleges. They express concerns about the potential loss of diversity and choice in higher education if more colleges follow a similar path.
3. Competition and Innovation: The hosts discuss the concept of colleges engaging in unfriendly mergers or acquisitions similar to business practices seen in companies like Amazon. They debate the impact of such practices on higher education, with Gary expressing concern about the potential loss of diversity and Joseph emphasizing the need for innovation and collaboration.
4. FAFSA Delays: The hosts address the delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the innovative approaches some colleges, like St. Louis University, are taking to work around the delay. They discuss the need for an overhaul of the financial aid system in higher education.
5. Financial Aid Innovation: Gary praises Mark Salisbury from tuitionfit.org for predicting that colleges would find ways to offer financial aid without relying solely on FAFSA. Joseph highlights the challenges of the current financial aid system and suggests the need for a comprehensive revamping.
6. Upper Iowa University's Enrollment Deposit Offer: The hosts discuss Upper Iowa University's promotional offer, allowing students to make an enrollment deposit of one dollar until March 15th. While Gary sees some minimal credit for innovation, Joseph strongly criticizes the move, calling it a bait-and-switch tactic and emphasizing the need for transparency in college pricing.

On this episode, we hit on college consolidation (aka mergers), Caitlin Clark and women's sports in college, UNC-Greensboro Faculty Oppose Academic Cuts (Gary is stunned - NOT), and the continuing leadership travesty and Webster University in the St. Louis suburbs.

We won't tell you the 'good points' score, but know that there is a new winner this week.