December 29, 2015
Who should pay for poor student choices?
The student loan situation is a mess, with thousands of students unable to repay their loans. The government famously lowered lending standards for federally backed mortgages,
December 21, 2015
Two Philadelphia universities announce plans to merge; makes good business sense
In a challenging market environment, most private companies would look at merger opportunities as a way to lower costs. In the academic world, however, this
December 15, 2015
DuPont, A Personal Reflection
As the DuPont Company prepares to slide into corporate oblivion, I wanted to share a personal reflection. This commentary piece appeared on The Philadelphia Inquirer "Think Tank"
December 4, 2015
Are there no longer masters of anything?
It seems that Harvard University is determined to be part of the politically correct campus madness. Highly educated people who insist on publicly humiliating themselves shows
December 1, 2015
It’s Easier to learn Writing Than Thermodynamics
What do we really want from long form journalism, as opposed to broadcast journalism, with its reliance on quick sound bites and arguments on talk
November 20, 2015
“Apple College” is a great idea
We need to start breaking the mold and thinking more broadly about higher education. I have a thought -- this concept is not for everybody, but it
November 10, 2015
Have It Your Way – Just Not With My Money
A penetrating article in The Wall Street Journal lists the many aggressive efforts mounted by colleges and universities over the years to prevent publication of
October 29, 2015
But don’t college degrees lead to higher paying jobs?
The federal government has made it very easy to secure student loans for college, and now they are making it easier and easier to repay
October 26, 2015
Can a Video Game Outperform a Professor?
Maybe in some ways it can, according to a side-by-side test done by a professor at Hult International Business School. See my post here on Phi Beta
October 20, 2015
College faculty shifts towards low paid adjuncts, while tuition climbs
I don't think that most students or their parents realize that, while tuition costs have been climbing at a pace that far outstrips inflation, there
October 20, 2015
A Good Writer Needs a Good Office. How Can I Possibly Cope with Mine?
So here I am in Career #3, following 30 years in the chemical industry with FMC Corporation, and an additional 13 years on the faculty
October 12, 2015
Is diversity what really counts in engineering?
I thought I was safe last week in London, but obviously not. Reading the morning paper with my coffee, I stumbled across an argument for more women in engineering