Exploring the Presidential Pipeline
Reports & Tools
Exploring the Presidential Pipeline in CUPA-HR Administrators in Higher Education Annual Report
As colleges and universities strive to create a more equitable and representative workforce, there has been increased emphasis on recognizing and exploring the pipeline that leads to leadership positions. The 2020 CUPA-HR Administrators in Higher Education Annual Report, released April 16, highlights data collected on the pipeline for three key positions: president/CEO, provost/chief academic officer, and chief human resources officer. To learn more, see the overview and full report for salaries, demographic comparisons, and detailed trend information.
Assessing Student Learning in the Online Modality
NILOA's Occasional Paper 40 provides a resource for an in-depth discussion of the Open SUNY Course Quality Review Rubric (OSCQR)—an online course design rubric that is openly licensed for anyone to use and adapt. The aim of the OSCQR Rubric is to assist online instructional designers and online faculty to improve the quality and accessibility of their online courses. OSCQR also provides a system-wide approach for collecting data to inform faculty development, support large-scale online course design review, and refresh efforts in a systematic way.
Should Colleges Invest in Machine Learning?
The Community College Research Center (CCRC) published a report comparing the predictive power of machine learning and early momentum metrics (EMM) for student success. They found that while machine learning utilized over 500 variables, compared to early momentum metrics’ 13, EMM correctly predicted graduation outcomes for 80% of students. Using the machine learning model only improved prediction by two percentage points, indicating that while machine learning has merit, there are perhaps more cost-effective ways to predict credential completion for students.
Recent Latino Immigrant Education Levels Reached New High as of 2018
According to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, the educational attainment of recently arrived Latino immigrants in the U.S. has reached its highest level in at least three decades, reflecting changes in where immigrants are coming from and rising education levels in Latin America and other regions.
Emerging Trends
COVID-19, Prospective and Current Students: A Survey
A recent survey of high school seniors and students currently in college showed that COVID-19 had great effects on students’ financial situation, perspective of college, and plans for the future. Forty-one percent of current students said their view of college has gotten worse as a result of COVID-19, and over 60% of current students said online instruction was worse than the education they had received on campus. Additionally, 14% of high school seniors who were planning to attend a four-year institution now say they are likely or very likely to change their plans.
Pandemic Has Halted Job Training
This article, from The Chronicle of Higher Education, discusses how low-income and minority students may be disproportionately hurt by the pandemic. Many academic programs below the baccalaureate level require on-the-job training that has been halted by the pandemic, and 58% of students from the lowest income quartile enroll in these programs, compared with 41% from the highest quartile. Students who plan to have apprenticeships are at risk for losing opportunities due to a likely recession, as U.S. apprenticeship opportunities decreased by more than 20% after the last recession.
Win With Empathy: Global Talent Trends 2020
Mercer’s 2020 Global Talent Trends Study reveals that current realities and unresolved debates weigh us down, even as we see a future full of opportunity in this new decade. An opportunity which, for now, seems halted by COVID-19. Longstanding metrics such as gross domestic product feel past their prime, and many traditional institutions that underwrote decades of progress were just beginning to transform. The changes we are witnessing, brought about by uncertain times, are not only disrupting our present, but will set a new normal in how we live, work, operate and do business.
Policy Watch
Senators Seek Help for Student Loan Borrowers Left Out of Coronavirus Relief Bill
In the latest package of coronavirus relief funding, known as the CARES Act or Phase Three, Congress provided a reprieve to student loan borrowers, but unfortunately many were left out. Now, a set of senators is trying to help. See a summary of the CARES Act here.
American Voters’ Perceptions of Student Loan Forgiveness
Student loan forgiveness seems radically simple to some: As the student debt crisis continues to deepen, why not wipe the slate completely clean? But beyond this concept’s straightforward veneer lies a world of complexity, involving nuanced distinctions of policy, perception, and principle.
Could Short-Term Pell Lead to a Pell Shortfall?
One controversial proposal to extend Pell Grants to very, very short-term programs could have significantly higher costs—for students as well as for taxpayers—than lawmakers are predicting. This could put Pell funding at risk, for the very students this policy seeks to help.
NCES Updates
Important Data Collection Updates
The spring 2020 data collection for Keyholders closed April 22, 2020. The deadline for Coordinators is still May 6, 2020. Institutions that were not able to provide the data by 4/22, but anticipate that they can provide data within the next few weeks, should contact the IPEDS Help Desk (by email ipedshelp@rti.org or 1-877-225-2568) to make provisions for submitting the data in the near term.
For institutions that cannot provide complete and accurate spring 2020 data in the near term, an additional reporting opportunity will be made available during the fall of 2020. Using the Prior Year Revision System, institutions will be able to provide any missing spring 2020 data beginning in September, 2020 and continuing through a later date to be determined as normal operations are restored.
In situations where institutions provide complete and accurate spring 2020 data under any of the scenarios outlined above, they will remain in compliance with Federal Student Aid (FSA) reporting requirements. As the situation evolves, additional information will be provided by NCES. Institutional Keyholders and Coordinators have received official notification of this guidance.
New Skills Map: State and County Estimates of Adult Skills Proficiency
NCES released the U.S. Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy. The U.S. PIAAC Skills Map is an interactive mapping tool that allows users to access estimates of adult literacy and numeracy proficiency in all U.S. states and counties. These estimates are based on data collected in the three rounds of U.S. PIAAC data collection (in 2012, 2014 and 2017) as well as data from the American Community Survey (2013-2017).
From the IES Director: A New Tool to Support Cost Analysis in Education Research
The Cost Analysis Starter Kit, available online on the IES website, provides a three-phased approach to the basics of cost analysis. The goal is to present information in a way that is accessible and user friendly for those who are new to the topic, are less experienced with it, or simply want a refresher.