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August 11, 2025

Beware Graduate Programs Masquerading as “Professional” to Increase Student Debt

…numerous speakers representing graduate schools clamored for their programs to be labeled “professional.” A representative of the Council on Social Work Education argued that “a [Master of Social Work] provides…

July 2, 2025

Holding Colleges Accountable: From Graduation to Gainful Employment

Event Summary On July 2, USA Today education reporter Zachary Schermele moderated a web event with AEI Senior Fellow Beth Akers and Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations…

June 20, 2025

Senate Embraces “Do No Harm” for Higher Education

…proposal would strengthen the higher education system. But the current political environment presents a once-in-a-generation chance to fix the broken federal role in higher education. Lawmakers shouldn’t miss the opportunity…

June 12, 2025

The Senate’s Higher Education Reforms Are Strong (But Could Be Stronger)

…outcomes. The Senate will need to approve the full package, and lawmakers must reconcile its differences with another higher education reform plan recently passed the House. There are more steps before these…

May 29, 2025

AI Has Invaded the Classroom—Here’s How We Catch Up

…judgment. Doing so will require strong leadership from teachers experimenting with new pedagogies, from policymakers updating obsolete systems, and from tech companies building tools that enrich rather than erode learning….

May 28, 2025

The Challenge: A Complex and Inefficient Student Loan System

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May 14, 2025

Graduation in the Time of COVID: The Weakened Relationship with Chronic Absenteeism

…to over 100,000 fewer graduates—if not for its weakened relationship with absenteeism. Educators and policymakers must purposefully contend with whether emergency pandemic policy changes have enduring effects on students and…

May 12, 2025

To Improve Student Outcomes, Focus On Classroom Practice, Not Policy

…by my recent Marquette Today piece, the event—hosted in collaboration with the College of Education—brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers to discuss how improving classroom practice is the linchpin of meaningful…

May 7, 2025

Republicans Unveil Plan to Rein in Student Debt and Waste in Higher Education

In a significant development for higher education policy, House Republicans have unveiled a sweeping proposal to reform student loans and financial aid through the federal budget reconciliation process. This effort, which complements…

May 5, 2025

What’s in House Republicans’ Student Loan Overhaul

…where lawmakers have proposed their own set of student loan reforms that differ on some points. However, the policies in the House package stand a better chance of becoming law than any…