On Campus Radio

Access to college is not a given for everyone. Money and geography can both play a role in locking some people out of the promise of a higher education. With several presidential campaign candidates pushing the idea of free college, On Campus Radio looks at how this idea is playing out in places where it’s already being offered. We'll visit Tennessee -- a state that allows all new high school graduates to enroll in a post-secondary associate or certificate program without having to pay out of pocket for tuition. We'll also go to Rhode Island, where the Ocean State is in the middle of a four-year pilot for a similar program. Then, we'll hear from Matthew Chingos, who directs the Urban Institute's Center on Education Data and Policy, about how free college proposals really work and why it isn't always easy as it sounds. All that and more on this month's episode of On Campus Radio.

The new year is often a time for reflection and looking back. But on the latest episode of On Campus Radio, we'll be looking forward at what issues the world of higher education is facing. First, we'll review what stories you may have missed, from a lawsuit levied against Betsy DeVos by one of the nation's largest teachers unions to updates on the Varsity Blues case. Then, we'll have an in-depth conversation with Helen Drinan, the current president of Simmons University, who will be stepping down at the end of the semester. She'll talk about the issues facing higher education, including how institutions can remain credible to the public and how schools can make the experience better for students. Then, we'll take a look at college athletics. We'll take another look at how states student-athletes may be getting more rights to their name, image and likeness and what that means for college sports. We'll then hear from Joseph Cooper from UMass Boston who will give insight into how he thinks this and other topics will play out in college athletics over the coming years. You'll hear all that and more on this month's episode of On Campus Radio.

Mental health issues have reached crisis levels among college students. From anxiety to depression, kids are feeling the pressure, in some cases from birth. What's contributing to it? And how are schools responding? That's what we're looking into on this month's episode of On Campus Radio. First, we'll hear about the series "Stressed and Depressed on Campus" from WGBH News Higher Ed Reporter Kirk Carapezza. He'll explain how stress on students often starts at birth, how high achieving students often experience the most pressure, what happens to first-generation college students who are dealing with specific problems and what colleges are doing to respond to demands for action. After that, we'll hear from Pam Eddinger, president of Bunker Hill Community College, about what community colleges are doing to keep their students mentally healthy. Then, we'll talk to Marjorie Malpiede from the Mary Christie Foundation, which focuses on the health and wellness of teens and young adults. She'll talk about a recent study the foundation did that found a majority of parents and college students are concerned about mental health on campus, and what campuses can do. Finally, we'll hear from Laura Horne from Active Minds, a national organization that focuses on mental health and has more than 450 chapters at high schools and colleges across the nation. She'll speak about what students are saying about mental health and what they say they need from their schools. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the *National Suicide Prevention Lifeline** at 800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting “Home” to 741741. More resources are available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.*

Earlier this month, in a case that drew national attention, a federal judge ruled that Harvard does not discriminate against Asian-Americans. Now, the world of higher education is reacting to the ruling and preparing for the next steps. We'll discuss it all on this month's episode of On Campus Radio. First, we'll hear from WGBH News' Kirk Carapezza, who was in the courtroom everyday, about why Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the way she did and what higher ed leaders thought of the performance from the plaintiffs and the defense. Then, we'll talk to Ted Shaw, a professor of law at the Univesity of North Carolina, and Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, about what they saw in the trial, where they differ in their opinions on the use of race in admissions. Then, we'll go back to some of our past reporting on diversity on campus and the discussions about what it means, why it's important and how we should achieve it. Finally, WGBH News' Ken Cooper will bring his perspective about the case and the history of race on campus in America.

It's fall already, and that means colleges across the country are back in full swing. And, On Campus Radio is back with another episode. First, we look at one of the biggest misconceptions about college — that "college students" are full-time, four-year students at big state or private schools. In reality, four in 10 students are enrolled part-time, and many are working, commuting and struggling to finish coursework for their degrees. We examine the struggles of these students and talk to Davis Jenkins from Teachers College at Columbia University about how colleges and states are tying to improve outcomes for part-time students. Next, we look at restrictive voting laws and how they impact students. We'll talk to Daniel Block, an editor at Washington Monthly, to talk about hurdles students face if they try to vote from where they go to college. Then, we'll turn our attention to California, where a new bill that aims to allow student athletes to be compensated for their names, images and likenesses is drawing serious heat from the NCAA and has the potential to reshape the college sports landscape. We'll speak to Andrew Zimbalist, an economist at Smith College, about the politics that go into college athletics and why the NCAA holds on so dearly to amateurism. All that, plus updates on the Varsity Blues case as a federal judge in Boston begins handing down sentences.

It's August and the dog days of summer are coming to a close. And although school is just starting back up, the stories in higher education haven't come to a stop. First, we'll take a look into student housing, both in Boston and beyond. First, we'll re-visit the On Campus's trip to Barcelona earlier this year to look into how that city is dealing with finding homes for that city's large student population. Then, we'll take what we learned there and apply it to Boston's own struggle to find affordable housing for undergraduates. We'll talk to Emma Goodwin, a recent grad from Emerson College, who wrote an op-ed in The Boston Globe railing against the housing situation in the city for students and the wide-spread perception that college kids are the problem. We then hear from Alicia Modestino, an economist at Northeastern University who breaks down what's driving the housing crunch in the city, how college students play into it and potential solutions. Then, we're going to get out of Massachusetts for higher education stories around the country you may have missed. We speak to Claire McInerny, the education reporter for KUT, the NPR member station in Austin, Texas. She tells us how a new law in Texas aims to get all graduating seniors to apply for federal or state student aid and what it will take to implement that legislation on a large scale. Then, we'll go to the only state larger than Texas in landmass, Alaska, where the higher ed community has been on edge after the governor announced large cuts to the budget for the state's university system. We'll talk to Wesley Early, a reporter at Alaska Public Media, about how the situation has evolved and what it could mean for the future of education in the state. Finally, we'll speak to Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University. In his new book, “Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist's Approach To Inclusion, Free Speech And Political Correctness On College Campuses,” Roth tries to make sense of very confusing, polarizing times in American higher education.

The middle of summer is one of the best times of the year for American high school students. There's a long break, warm days, time with friends and plenty of sun. Oh, and there's also summer workshops that give students the chance to go to a college campus and get a glimpse of what they can expect from a college campus. On this summertime edition of On Campus Radio, we'll take a look at two of these workshops and why they've become such an important part of the high school experience. First, we'll go to the Berklee College of Music, where a two-week program in July for music students draws participants from across the country. Then, we'll head over to MIT where an engineering program for high school students lets them work on projects with their peers under the direct supervision of MIT professors. Finally, we'll talk to a group of former students at Boston Latin School who helped develop an Advanced Placement climate science class and a climate curriculum for elementary students to help educate future generations about the impact of climate change. You'll hear all of that, plus all the latest higher ed news on this episode of On Campus Radio.

In this month's episode of On Campus Radio, it's a blast from the past as we take a look back at some of our best stories so far. First, we go back to Hampshire College as it continues to struggle with its finances and look at how schools are finding new and different streams of revenue. We'll also look back at how internships are becoming prioritized as students strive to get themselves ready for the professional world and how schools like Bunker Hill Community College are working to get their students considered for competitive internships. Then, we have extended conversations with Tony Jack about what elite schools could be doing better to help students who aren't privileged and Joyce Martin about how students at Brandeis University spearheaded the effort to start one of the nation's first black studies departments. We'll take a look back at a movement to have uncomfortable conversations at Williams College.

As the landscape of higher ed changes, schools are doing more to get students ready for the work force through internships, purposeful work program and other initiatives. But will it work? We’ll explore this, and more, on this month’s episode of On Campus Radio.

It's been a busy month in higher education. And we've got everything you need to catch up on this month's episode of On Campus Radio. First, we have an update on the ongoing fallout from Operation Varsity Blues, the sweeping investigation into allegations of fraud and bribery in college admissions at colleges across the country. We also discuss Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren's sweeping proposal to cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans, provide free undergraduate tuition and fees at all public colleges and cut off federal funding for for-profit schools. Then, we'll break down the latest in the fight to keep Hampshire College open with an interview with interim president Ken Rosenthal, about the school's plans to keep running. We'll also talk to Brian Mitchell, the former president of Bucknell University and the author of "How to Run a College." After that, we visit Nichols College  to take a look at what strategies that small, private college in Worcester County is employing to get ahead of the financial storm so many other schools are in the middle of.

On this episode of On Campus Radio, we take a deep look into the admissions scandal rocking the country. Plus, we look into how a new college at MIT is part of a change in how people view higher education.

After announcing it was seeking a merger, Hampshire College revealed this month they won't be bringing in a new class for the fall. On our latest episode of On Campus Radio, we'll explore the situation at Hampshire and what it means for the landscape of higher ed.

For the first time, the Board of Higher Education has created a financial stress test to confidentially screen at-risk colleges, monitoring their revenue and expenses. The goal is to protect students, families and employees by proactively identifying struggling colleges and avoiding abrupt shutdowns, like Mount Ida College's in Newton last year.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has already rescinded Obama-era guidelines for how schools handle sexual harassment and assault claims. Now, she is hoping to give what she calls fair protections to the accused. Advocates for survivors see this as a big step backward and they are making their voices heard. The deadline for public comment has been extended to Wednesday, Jan. 30. On the latest episode of On Campus Radio, we'll look into DeVos' proposed changes and how students and educators are responding to them.

This month, seven women filed a federal class action lawsuit in New Hampshire claiming three former tenured psychology professors groped and harassed them. One of the professors is accused of raping two students. They charged that Dartmouth administrators knew for years about the department's "Animal House" culture, but ignored several sexual misconduct complaints for more than a decade. Dartmouth has denied the charges and, in a statement, strongly disagreed with the characterization of its response to the allegations. All three professors have either retired or resigned. The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration has proposed new regulations on how colleges handle sexual misconduct claims. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has said the draft rules, released Nov. 6, enhance fairness by adding protections for the accused. Advocates for survivors have condemned the move as a step backwards because they narrow the definition of sexual harassment and require colleges like Dartmouth to act only if the alleged misconduct appears to be severe and also pervasive.

Last month, the role of athletics in the student admissions process of selective schools like Harvard and Yale — and how favorably athletic applicants are viewed — was brought into question. A group called Students for Fair Admissions has sued Harvard, saying the university discriminates against Asian-American applicants. During the three-week trial, some of Harvard's admissions practices came to light, including how athletes are given a significant advantage in the admissions process. According to Harvard's own data, 83 percent of athletes with high academic ratings are accepted. That's compared to only 16 percent for non-athletes. The defense Harvard presented was that athletics helps to build a community at an academic institution. 

Does Harvard discriminate against Asian-Americans? That was the central question at the heart of the closely-watched federal court case that ended Friday in Boston. A group called Students for Fair Admissions accused Harvard of discriminating against Asian-American applicants by rating them lower on personal qualities. Harvard has vigorously defended itself, relying, in part, on the stories of Asian-American students and alumni. Meanwhile, the group representing unnamed Asian Americans who say they were unfairly denied admission is leaning heavily on statistics.

A federal court case alleging Harvard University discriminates against Asian-American applicants gets underway Monday in Boston. While the case focuses on Harvard, it could have big consequences for other selective colleges that are committed to diversity and have similar admissions practices. At stake is 40 years of legal precedent that the Constitution allows race to be one factor in deciding which students to admit.

Montana residents are alone in the nation in being required to weigh in every 10 years on whether to allot a portion of their property taxes to support their public universities and colleges. While they’ve said “yes” every decade since the question started being asked in 1948, the margin has been narrowing, and this year’s vote comes at a time of growing antagonism toward both academia and taxes.

Next month, the trial begins in a case where a group called Students For Fair Admissions is suing Harvard, claiming the university discriminates against Asian-American applicants by holding them to higher academic and personal standards. On the next episode of On Campus Radio, we look into the case and how Harvard and other selective schools consider race to diversify enrollment.