Video Posted from Mapping The Futures of Higher Education Session 2 – Feb. 10, 2015
On February 10, 2015 we opened the second session of Mapping the Futures of Higher Education with a discussion and Q&A session on William Kelly’s “Forgotten Alternatives” and Cathy Davidson’s “Changing Higher Ed from the Classroom Up”
Highlights form the discussion:
- Issue of preparation before students get to college—biggest indicator of whether they will graduate. CUNY schools provide underprepared students a big lift. Least prepared students are entering community colleges; student issues related to academic performance are often attributed to socioeconomic backgrounds and family dynamics more than ambition and intelligence. “Heartache and heartburn are far more distracting than e-mail.” Students have a different level of attention when issues are weighing on us…duress is documentable.
- Preparation maps along economic lines may show differences in SES and academic performance.
- Student debt crises is a national issues; it has kept people at all levels from participating in higher ed…carrying a student debt burden is difficult and not dischargeable in bankruptcy. At CUNY more than 80% graduate debt free.
- Our policies haven’t evolved to meet the realities of new life and work situations.
To hear the entire discussion and Q&A see our YouTube video of the event: