Universities Weblog

(Source: Kenyon College)

The anti-rankings crusade continues. This time it's a group of liberal arts college presidents banding together to stop the madness.

Here's a bit from the New York Times:

The presidents of dozens of liberal arts colleges have decided to stop participating in the annual college rankings by U.S. News and World Report.

Brian Kelly, the editor of U.S. News, said the magazine applauded any effort to come up with new data. "If they come up with some new data, fine," Mr. Kelly said. He was also conciliatory toward the presidents who said they would no longer cooperate with the magazine. "If a few presidents don't want to participate, we understand," he said.

Read the rest here. And as always, stay tuned.

My new Chronicle of Higher Education column is out this week. This time I look at American Idol, specifically the "Idol Gives Back" episode. What lessons did it teach us about philanthropy?

Here's a bit:

I'll let you in on a little secret but you have to promise not to tell anyone: I'm a huge fan of American Idol.

But it worked.

Read the rest here.

(Source: Antioch University)

Antioch University announced it will close its main undergraduate college, located in Yellow Springs, OH. Plans now are for the college to reopen in some form in 2012.

From InsideHigherEd:

Antioch University announced Tuesday that it would suspend operations of its main undergraduate college – which has played a historic role in American higher education – at the end of the next academic year. All of the approximately 40 faculty members teaching at the college will lose their jobs. Antioch's other campuses, which focus on graduate programs and nontraditional students, will continue.

Antioch was founded in 1852, with Horace Mann serving as its first president. The college played a role in the abolitionist movement and was an early institution to admit students who were women or black. In the 20th century, Antioch was among the pioneers in "co-op education" in which students alternated positions of work all over the country with their education at the Yellow Springs, Ohio, campus. Antioch was particularly notable in that the education was focused on the liberal arts, and the college was known for turning out graduates who went on to play major roles in intellectual life and social activism, people like Clifford Geertz and Stephen Jay Gould and Coretta Scott King.

Read the rest here.

Good luck to the Antioch folks. Tough road ahead.

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(Source: Washington & Lee University)

It's becoming commonplace: Over the last couple of weeks, four institutions have announced gifts of $100 million. As I reported earlier, the Universities of Chicago and Illinois received that sum. On the heels of those announcements came word from the University of Washington of a $105 million gift from the Gates Foundation. When it rains, it floods.

Now, Washington & Lee University has announced its own $100 million gift. Like Chicago's benefactor, this donor chose anonymity.

Here's part of W&L's release:

During commencement exercises today, Washington and Lee University will announce that it has received a gift of $100 million, the largest in the 258-year-old school's history and one of the largest ever received by a liberal arts college.

The contribution was made to endow a new program focusing on leadership and integrity. "It provides an unprecedented set of opportunities for a university," said Ruscio. "The theme could not be more timely for Washington and Lee and for society."

Lots of money for a relatively small place.

(Source: 02138 Magazine)

The new magazine, which I've referenced before, is all about Harvard. It's pretty slick and, so far, pretty good.

In this latest issue, Richard Bradley, no stranger to everything Harvard, takes an intimate look at Drew Faust, the university's new president. He interviewed me for the piece, and quotes me as such:

Faust was a popular teacher. "There wasn't a dull moment in her lectures, and you'd marvel at her ability to hold her class's attention," says Mark Drozdowski, a former student who is now the director of a college foundation. But for all her expertise, Drozdowski says, Faust was still approachable. "She didn't seem to have a big ego," he recalls. "She didn't have the descending-from-Mount-olympus kind of attitude."

Fair enough. That last line contains what is probably the longest adjective I've ever uttered.

Definitely worth a read.

(Source: University of Illinois)

Another week, another $100 million gift in Illinois. As I reported last week, the University of Chicago received a nine-figure gift for scholarships. This time it's the University of Illinois, which will use the money to support bioengineering, stem-cell research and alternative energy, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The donor, Thomas Siebel, is an Illinois alumnus and computer-systems entrepreneur. In 1999, he gave the university $32 million.

This new gift kicks off a $2.25 billion campaign for Illinois. Pretty good start to the public phase, I'd say.

(Source: University of Chicago)

An anonymous donor (imagine that) has given the University of Chicago $100 million to underwrite scholarships for low-income students.

Coverage from the Chronicle of Higher Education:

In an announcement of the gift on Wednesday, the university said the money would be used for scholarships, jump-starting a $400-million fund-raising campaign for student aid.

The gift — the largest in the University of Chicago's history — will help eliminate loans entirely for students from families with annual incomes of less than $60,000. It will also help cut in half the amount of loans taken out by students whose families earn between $60,000 and $75,000 annually.

And from the university's public announcement:

"This gift ensures that the most talented students, no matter their economic circumstances, will have the opportunity to benefit from the uniquely powerful and rigorous Chicago education," said University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer. "Providing access to the College for these students comports with our highest values, is central to our mission, and has the potential to greatly enrich the life opportunities for our students and their families for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift and the inspiration it provides for others to support students and the University."

"I am giving this gift to the University of Chicago because I believe it had a profound effect on my life and in particular on allowing me to survive untold failures and persevere in mad adventures that have rewarded me with the financial resources to make this gift," said the donor in a written statement. "I give this gift in the hopes that future generations of students will not be prevented from attending the College because of financial incapacity and may graduate without the siren of debt distracting them from fulfilling unremunerative dreams."

Congrats to Chicago for landing this gift. Well-intentioned money, indeed.