By Rob Fried Jon Marcus’ New York Times Article “Radical Survival Strategies for Struggling Colleges,” turns out to be full of “strategies” that are far from “radical”. Non-elite colleges are losing ground for three reasons: fewer students are enrolling because of high tuition and fear of debt; most liberal arts degrees don’t provide entrepreneurial and … Read More
Blog & Pod
Duct Tape Solutions: The Problem with Problem-Solving in Higher Education
By Eli Kramer I’m here with good news, “Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s fall 2019 enrollment data shows a strong freshman class and an increase in the freshman to sophomore retention rate. Overall, total enrollment is 11,695, down 8.75 percent from fall 2018,” or so my graduate alma mater presents their current situation to me. One … Read More
A New American Baccalaureate for Diverse 21st Century Learners
by Robert L. Fried, Ed.D., and Eli Kramer, Ph. D. Surrounded and supported by inspiring friends, The New American Baccalaureate Project is joining the movement to transform undergraduate higher education. Our eyes are on the needs of today’s youth, and also on the future of liberal education and of our democracy. We are a small … Read More
A Liberal Arts Education for Working-Class Americans May Be the Best Thing We Can Do for Our Democracy
by Robert L. Fried After graduating high school during the summer of 1959, I took the only job I could get, a minimum-wage ($1.25 per hour) worker in an electronics factory in Astoria, Queens. I was consigned to a basement shop making parts for small tape recorders, where I was the only white, middle-class employee. … Read More