Letter to an incoming freshman

Dear Freshman,

Congratulations on this exciting new chapter! College is a time of immense growth, discovery, and opportunity. Done right, there will be uncertainty, challenges, long hours of study, and difficult decisions to make for your future self. 

Who am I? Where am I going? Why am I here? 

College is a transformative experience where you’ll discover more about yourself than ever before. It’s essential to examine and understand your identity, values, and goals. Reflect on your upbringing, your family’s influence, and the experiences that have shaped who you are today. This self-awareness will guide you as you explore new academic interests, build lasting friendships, and determine your career path. Seek guidance when needed, and embrace the opportunities that come your way.

 

 

Utilize the Campus Services You Pay For

College campuses offer resources to support your academic and personal success. Take advantage of services like tutoring, academic advising, and counseling. These professionals are here to help you overcome challenges, reach your goals, and make the most of your college experience. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance when needed—it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. Explore the various campus organizations and clubs that align with your interests to build a supportive community and develop new skills.

Seek Out the Best Teachers

The best teachers are more than just educators; they are mentors and guides. They inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and create a supportive learning environment. These individuals go above and beyond to help students reach their full potential. They possess a passion for their subject matter that is contagious, and they have a genuine care for their students' well-being. Seek out professors who challenge you intellectually, encourage your creativity, and provide constructive feedback. Building strong relationships with your professors can significantly enhance your college experience.   

Solidarity and Belonging

College is filled with diversity and complexity. Embrace this diversity as a chance to learn and grow. Seek out communities where you feel a sense of belonging, whether it's based on shared interests, cultural heritage, or academic pursuits. Remember, your voice matters, and your experiences are valuable. By connecting with others, you’ll build a strong support network that will sustain you through your college years and beyond.

Avoid Peer Pressure

College is a time for exploration and new friendships, but it’s also important to stay true to yourself. Peer pressure can be intense, but remember that you have the power to make your own choices. Surround yourself with supportive friends who encourage your goals. If you find yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to say no. Your well-being is paramount, and it’s okay to prioritize your values over fitting in. Trust your instincts and seek support from trusted mentors or faculty members if needed.

Cultural Competence

As you embark on this exciting chapter of your life, it’s crucial to develop cultural competence. Understanding and appreciating different cultures is essential for personal growth and success. Cultivating cultural competence means being open-minded, respectful, and empathetic towards individuals from various backgrounds. It involves learning about different customs, traditions, and perspectives, and challenging your own biases. By embracing diversity, you’ll enrich your college experience, build stronger relationships, and become a more well-rounded individual.

Navigating Challenges

It's natural to feel a sense of alienation at times, especially when facing new environments and academic pressures. Know that these feelings are temporary, and you will find your place. Resilience is key to overcoming obstacles. Challenges are opportunities for growth, and they will shape you into a stronger and more capable individual. Cultivate a growth mindset, believing in your ability to learn and improve.

Financial Reality and Planning

Let's address the elephant in the room: student loan debt. It's a significant challenge facing many graduates. While education is an investment in your future, it's crucial to approach it with financial prudence. Explore scholarship opportunities, work-study programs, and part-time jobs to minimize your reliance on loans. Create a budget, track your expenses, and understand the terms of your loans. Your future self will thank you for being proactive about your finances.

Additionally, the job market can be competitive, and underemployment is a reality for many recent graduates. While college provides a strong foundation, it’s essential to develop practical skills and experience through internships, co-ops, and extracurricular activities. Network with professionals in your field, and be prepared to adapt your career goals as needed.

Safety and Well-being

College can be an exhilarating time, but it's important to prioritize your safety and well-being. Alcohol and drug abuse can have severe consequences, including academic failure, impaired judgment, and increased risk of sexual assault. It's crucial to consume alcohol responsibly (or not at all) and to avoid drugs altogether.

Sexual assault is a serious issue on college campuses. Learn about consent, bystander intervention, and campus resources. Trust your instincts, and never hesitate to seek help if you feel unsafe.

Creating a Meaningful Experience

College is more than just academics. Explore your passions, try new things, and step outside your comfort zone. When you are stable academically, engage in extracurricular activities, volunteer, and connect with your community. These experiences will enrich your life and help you discover your purpose.

Justice, Equity, and Fairness

College is a place to question, challenge, and advocate for what you believe in. Be informed about social issues and engage in thoughtful conversations. Your voice has the power to create positive change. Remember, justice, equity, and fairness are fundamental to a thriving society. Be an advocate for yourself and others, and strive to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Taking Care of Yourself

Prioritize your mental and physical health. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, and find ways to manage stress productively. Don’t hesitate to seek support from campus counseling services or other resources. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish; it's essential for your success and well-being.

You are capable of achieving great things. Embrace the challenges, celebrate your successes, and never stop learning. Your future self is counting on you!

With support, determination, careful planning, and a strong commitment to safety, you can navigate the complexities of college life and emerge as a well-rounded, resilient individual.  And don't forget to write back. 

Sincerely, The Higher Education Inquirer

We believe in your potential.

2U Collapse Puts Sallie Mae and SLABS Back on the Radar (Glen McGhee)

The collapse of 2U and its subsidiary edX has put Sallie Mae (SLM) on the radar.  Many of those elite brand certificate programs (under the name Harvard, MIT, Cal Berkeley) were propped up by Sallie Mae private student loans. 

When the adult learners who took these certificate courses from edX did not get better jobs that they were promised, some ended up struggling to pay their loans. Some have defaulted on their loans. And a ripple occurs.  As part of a larger edtech meltdown, and with IT jobs being lost each month, the situation promises to get worse.

As a hedge for SLM, most of these loans are processed into Student Loan Asset-Backed Securities (SLABS) and sold off as assets. Large investors, including pension programs are invested directly or indirectly in this mess.

Sallie Mae Boom and Bust 

Sallie Mae (SLM) is a private lender that has had a number of problems.  Despite being bailed out by the US government and spinning off part of itself, SLM has a poor credit rating that's bad and getting worse. 

In 1972, the Nixon administration created the Student Loan Marketing Association, or “Sallie Mae” — a government-sponsored enterprise empowered by the government to use U.S. Treasury money to buy government-backed student loans from banks. 

As a publicly traded corporation Sallie Mae has benefited from decades of close government connections.

SLM was very profitable (and very predatory to consumers) when there was little oversight, and the US economy was booming. But when the Great Recession hit in 2008, SLM had to be bailed out when the US government purchased billions of dollars in government-backed student loans. After that bailout, Sallie Mae returned to maximizing profitability.  Over the last 5 years, SLM shares have gained 144 percent in value as student borrowers have suffered.   

While the economy is doing well enough for the middle class, that could change for the worse, not just for consumers, but also Sallie Mae. 

Recent Troubles, Troubles Ahead

In July 2024, Moody's changed its outlook on SLM's long-term from stable to negative, The bond ratings were already less than stellar, a Ba1 for senior unsecured notes. Ratings for some of its Student Loan Asset-Backed Securities were downgraded in 2022. 

Help for Student Debtors

For student loan debtors, we recommend joining the Debt Collective and contacting other advocates, including the Student Borrower Protection Center and the Project on Predatory Student Lending.

Related links:

2U Suspended from NASDAQ. Help for USC and UNC Student Loan Debtors.

2U Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Will Anyone Else Name All The Elite Universities That Were Complicit?

HurricaneTWOU.com: Digital Protest Exposes Syracuse, USC, Pepperdine, and University of North Carolina in 2U edX Edugrift (2024)

2U-edX crash exposes the latest wave of edugrift (2023)

2U Virus Expands College Meltdown to Elite Universities (2019)

Buyer Beware: Servicemembers, Veterans, and Families Need to Be On Guard with College and Career Choices (2021)

College Meltdown 2.1 (2022)

EdTech Meltdown (2023)  

Erica Gallagher Speaks Out About 2U's Shady Practices at Department of Education Virtual Listening Meeting (2023)

Good ideas are stolen. Great ideas are buried. We uncover both. And we publish them.

Over the course of our tenure at the Higher Education Inquirer, we have discovered that the US political economy (including the higher education system that serves it) is in a state of dysfunction-that the situation is worsening--and that there is some resistance (and hope). 

This critical analysis is not merely a belief, but something that can be objectively measured, whether its child poverty, student loan debt, loss of good jobs and union busting, mental illness and suicide, social inequality, life expectancy, or global climate chaos. 

It can also be measured in protests, strikes, and progressive social change.  

It doesn't have to be this way, but lots of American time and energy is spent with greed and fear in mind, instead of improving quality of life and sustaining the planet. That's why the Higher Education Inquirer exists: not just to expose rampant corruption, but to provide viable, detailed, life-sustaining alternatives. 

We aim not just to educate, but to agitate and help organize. We are not ashamed to say that our list of guest authors and contributors reflects human diversity, equity, inclusion--and justice for students, workers, and activists--people who are often marginalized and silenced by the higher education establishment and the higher ed business.   

Unlike other sources, we believe in the power of the People.

If you have good ideas and great ideas for higher education, send them to us. If you have stories of challenges and resistance, send them. We'll publish them when others won't. If you fear retribution or ridicule, we'll publish those stories anonymously. And the good ideas (and great ideas) will get out.  

Related links:

Ahead of the Learned Herd: Why the Higher Education Inquirer Grows During the Endless College Meltdown

Higher Education, Technology, and A Growing Social Anxiety

A People's History of Higher Education in the US?

2U Suspended from NASDAQ. Help for USC and UNC Student Loan Debtors.

2U (TWOU), the online program manager for a number of elite and brand name schools has been suspended from the NASDAQ today for regulatory non-compliance. 

A number of law firms have also announced potential shareholder lawsuits as 2U attempts to reorganize.Their contention is that shareholders were misled by key executives of 2U. 

If these legal contentions are true, the Securities and Exchange Commission has the power to fine and ban executives and former executives from taking part as senior executives with other publicly traded companies. There is a precedent for this. In 2018, the former CEO and CFO of ITT Tech (ESI), Kevin Modany and Daniel Fitzpatrick, accepted penalties.   

Potential Relief from Fraud for Elite Online Degrees and Certificates 

2U has operated as an online program manager for about 70 clients, mostly highly regarded universities, including Harvard University, Yale University, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Georgia Tech, University of California, Berkeley, Pepperdine University, Rice University, University of North Carolina, and University of Texas. 2U made false claims about the relationship it had with corporate employers, leading consumers to believe that these brand name credentials would be a ticket to better work. 

Students who used federal student loans for 2U's online graduate programs for the University of Southern California and the University of North Carolina may be eligible for debt forgiveness if they can prove that they were defrauded. We recommend contacting the Project on Predatory Student Lending for a potential remedy. 

For those who were misled about elite certificates, we recommend contacting the Federal Trade Commission and your state attorney general. However, both options will not result in easy answers. 

Related links:

2U Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Will Anyone Else Name All The Elite Universities That Were Complicit?

HurricaneTWOU.com: Digital Protest Exposes Syracuse, USC, Pepperdine, and University of North Carolina in 2U edX Edugrift (2024)

2U-edX crash exposes the latest wave of edugrift (2023)

2U Virus Expands College Meltdown to Elite Universities (2019)

Buyer Beware: Servicemembers, Veterans, and Families Need to Be On Guard with College and Career Choices (2021)

College Meltdown 2.1 (2022)

EdTech Meltdown (2023)  

Erica Gallagher Speaks Out About 2U's Shady Practices at Department of Education Virtual Listening Meeting (2023)

How to Select the Best College Using the College Scorecard (FSA Outreach and Glen McGhee)

The Higher Education Inquirer appreciates your comments on this 2023 video produced by the US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid titled "Financial Aid Bootcamp: How to Select the Best College Using the College Scorecard."

While the College Scorecard provides valuable information, it's important for users to understand its limitations and consider multiple sources when making decisions about higher education. The tool continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to enhance its accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

If there are other videos that you think would help consumers make better college and career choices, please let us know. 

Higher Education, Technology, and A Growing Social Anxiety

The Era We Are In

We are living in a neoliberal/libertarian era filled with technological change, emotional and behavioral change, and social change. An era resulting in alienation (disconnection/isolation) for the working class and anomie (lawlessness) among elites and those who serve them. We are simultaneously moving forward with technology and backward with human values and principles. Elites are reestablishing a more brutal world, hearkening back to previous centuries--a world the Higher Education Inquirer has been observing and documenting since 2016. No wonder folks of the working class and middle class are anxious. 

Manufactured College Mania

For years, authorities such as the New York Federal Reserve expressed the notion (or perhaps myth) that higher education was an imperative for young folks. They said that the wealth premium for college graduates was a million dollars over the course of a lifetime--ignoring the fact that a large percentage of people who started college never graduated--and that tens of millions of consumers and their families were drowning in student loan debt. 

2U, Guild Education, and a number of online robocolleges reflected the neoliberal promise of higher education and online technology to improve social mobility.  The mainstream media were largely complicit with these higher ed schemes. 

2U brought advanced degrees and certificates to the masses, using brand names such as Harvard, MIT, Yale, USC, University of North Carolina, and the University of Texas to promote the expensive credentials that did not work for many consumers. 

Guild Education brought educational opportunities to folks at Walmart, Target, Macy's and other Fortune 500 companies who would be replacing their workers with robotics, AI, and other technologies. But the educational opportunities were for credentials from subprime online schools like Purdue University Global. Few workers took the bait. 

As 2U files for bankruptcy, it leaves a number of debt holders holding the bag, including more than $500M to Wilmington Trust, and $30M to other vendors and clients, including Guild Education, and a number of elite universities. Guild Education is still alive, but like 2U, has had to fire a quarter of its workers, even downsizing its name to Guild, as investor money dries up. It continues to spend money on its image, as a Team USA sponsor.    

The online robocolleges (including Liberty University, Grand Canyon University, University of Phoenix, Purdue University Global, and University of Arizona Global)  brought adult education and hope to the masses, especially those who were underemployed. In many cases, it was false hope, as they also brought insurmountable student debt to American consumers. Billions and billions in debt that cannot be repaid, now considered toxic assets to the US government. 

Along the way there have been important detractors in popular culture, especially on the right. Conservative radio celebrity Dave Ramsey, railed against irresponsible folks carrying lots of debt, including student loan debt. He was not wrong, but he did not implicate those who preyed on student consumers. On the left, the Debt Collective also railed against student loan debt, long before the right, but they were often ignored or marginalized. 

Adapting to a Brutal System

The system  works for elites and some of those who serve them, but not for others, even some of the middle class. Good jobs once at the end of the education pipeline have been replaced by 12-hour shifts, 60 hour work weeks, bullsh*t jobs, and gig work. 

Working-class Americans are living shorter lives, lives in some cases made worse not so much by lack of education, but by the destruction of union jobs, and by social media, and other intended and unintended consequences of technology and neoliberalism. Millions of folks, working class and some middle class, who have invested in higher education and have overwhelming debt and fading job prospects, feel like they have been lied to.

We also have lives made more sedentary and solitary by technology. Lives made more hectic and less tolerable. Inequality making lives too easy for those with privilege and lives too difficult for the working class to manage. Lives managed by having fewer relationships and fewer children. Many smartly choosing not to bring children into this new world. All of this manufactured by technology and human greed.  

The College Dream is Over...for the Working Class

There are two competing messages about higher education: the first that college brings opportunity and wealth and the second, that higher education may bring debt and misery. The truth is, these different messages are meant for two groups: pushing brand name schools and student loans for the most ambitious middle class/working class and a lesser form of education for the struggling working class. 

In 2020, Gary Roth said that the college dream was over. Yet the socially manufactured college mania continues, flooding the internet with ads for college and college loans, as social realities point to a future with fewer good and meaningful jobs even for those with degrees. Higher education will continue to work for some, but should every consumer, especially among the struggling working class, believe the message is for them? 

Related links:

More than half of college grads are stuck in jobs that don't require degrees (msn.com)

AI-ROBOT CAPITALISTS WILL DESTROY THE HUMAN ECONOMY (Randall Collins)

Edtech Meltdown 

Guild Education: Enablers of Anti-Union Corporations and Subprime College Programs

2U Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Will Anyone Else Name All The Elite Universities That Were Complicit?

College Mania!: An Open Letter to the NY Fed (2019)

"Let's all pretend we couldn't see it coming": The US Working-Class Depression (2020)

The College Dream is Over (Gary Roth, 2020)

The American K-12 Pipeline: Inequality and Injustice Start Here

The American education system promises equal opportunity for all. However, that promise is far from reality. The K-12 system, the foundation of this educational pyramid, is riddled with inequalities that create a segregated pipeline towards higher education and future careers. This report delves into the systemic issues within K-12 education and their far-reaching consequences.

Under a Trump-Vance Administration, we should expect these inequalities to widen, with more resources going to those who need it least--and fewer resources going to families and communities that  need it most. Furthermore, we should expect even less oversight of federal dollars for programs meant for working class communities that may or may not work, including charter schools, online education for kids, and exclusively online teacher education. This could further harden the US class system, making social mobility even more caste-like.  

Inequality in the K-12 System

Funding disparities plague the K-12 system. Wealthy school districts often boast smaller class sizes, newer facilities, and access to advanced coursework, while schools in low-income areas struggle with overcrowding, outdated resources, and a lack of qualified teachers. This uneven distribution of resources creates a significant achievement gap, leaving students from disadvantaged backgrounds unprepared for higher education.

Impact on Higher Education

The consequences of K-12 inequality ripple through the entire educational spectrum. Students from under-resourced schools are less likely to meet the admissions requirements for competitive colleges and universities. This disproportionately affects students from low-income families, limiting their access to prestigious institutions and the professional networks they cultivate.

• Community Colleges: Community colleges often serve as a steppingstone for students seeking to transfer to four-year institutions. However, the poor preparedness of students from unequal K-12 systems lead to lower completion rates at community colleges. 

• Regional State Universities: Regional state universities, known for their affordability, become less accessible to students who require extensive remedial coursework due to inadequate K-12 preparation.

• Flagship Universities: Flagship universities, the crown jewels of state university systems, become even more exclusive for students from working class backgrounds. The mission of these schools to educate folks from the state is no longer its exclusive or even primary goal.  International students who pay greater tuition, or serve as skilled academic labor, are favored.  

• Elite Universities: Elite universities, with their highly selective admissions processes, remain largely out of reach for those without the academic foundation provided by well-funded K-12 schools.

Regional, State, County, and Local Disparities

The quality of K-12 education can vary dramatically within a single state, county, or even city. Wealthy suburbs often have superior schools compared to their urban counterparts. Rural areas may face challenges in attracting and retaining qualified teachers. These regional and local discrepancies exacerbate existing inequalities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demographic Changes

The United States is experiencing significant demographic shifts. The K-12 system needs to adapt to cater to an increasingly diverse student population with varying needs. This includes:

• Immigrant Populations: A growing number of students come from families where English may not be the primary language at home. Schools need resources to support these students and ensure their success.

• Social Class: Students from low-income backgrounds often have limited access to educational opportunities outside of school, further widening the achievement gap.

• Race and Ethnicity: Students of color are disproportionately enrolled in under-resourced schools, creating a system that perpetuates racial and ethnic disparities in educational attainment.

Impact on Employment Opportunities

The unequal K-12 pipeline has a direct impact on opportunities for gainful employment. Students who lack a strong educational foundation are more likely to enter low-paying jobs with limited upward mobility. This cycle of educational disadvantage translates into economic disadvantage, limiting opportunities for social mobility.

The Perpetuation of Poverty and Other Issues

Unequal access to quality education is intricately linked to a web of social issues. Poverty, near poverty, and mass incarceration are more prevalent among those with lower levels of education. Limited opportunities can lead to deaths of desperation, a term encompassing suicides and deaths due to preventable health conditions brought on by chronic stress. Conversely, those who navigate the unequal K-12 pipeline successfully are more likely to accumulate wealth, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor.

Related links:

The K-12 Pipeline for Global Elites: Inequality and Injustice Start Here

A People's History of Higher Education in the US?

The K-12 Pipeline for Global Elites: Inequality and Injustice Start Here

The K-12 pipeline for global elites operates as a separate and often invisible track compared to the public system. Instead of merit and potential, this pipeline is characterized by privilege, resources, and a focus on gaining admission to prestigious universities. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

Early Investment:

• Elite Private Schools: Wealthy families from around the world enroll their children in elite boarding schools. These schools are known for smaller class sizes, rigorous academics, and experienced teachers. 

  Students include the children of elites from China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and Venezuela. Room and board can exceed $60,000 a year. 

  Elite schools do offer scholarships to lesser folks, not out of charity, but because they provide value to the institutions. But these scholarships do not outweigh the immense privileges that the children of elites receive before, during, and after school. 
  

• Enrichment Activities: Extracurricular activities like sports, music, theater, and coding classes are actively encouraged. These activities not only enhance well-rounded development but also provide opportunities for leadership and awards, which can bolster college applications.

• Test Prep and College Counseling: Students receive extensive coaching for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, maximizing their chances of achieving high scores. Professional college counselors guide them through the complex application process, including essay writing, recommendation letters, and strategic college selection.

Parental Involvement:

• High Expectations: Parents of elite students often set high academic expectations and provide a supportive environment conducive to learning. This includes access to educational resources, technology, and quiet study spaces. Working class parents may hold their children to high standards, but they may not have the time or resources.
  

• Networking and Alumni Connections: Elite parents may leverage their own professional networks and alumni connections to secure internships, research opportunities, or even preferential consideration from colleges and universities.  While working class folks have networks, such as religious organizations and labor unions, they cannot offer connections that elites have.
  

The Outcomes:

• Standardized Test Scores: Students on the elite track consistently achieve higher scores on standardized tests, increasing their competitiveness for admission to selective universities.
  

• College Admissions: These students are well-positioned for admission to prestigious universities, often securing spots at Ivy League institutions or other highly ranked schools. This opens doors to exclusive networks, prestigious internships, and faculty mentorship that can further propel their careers.