Brookings: Topics - U.S. Higher Education

Building a Strong, Independent DC Community College

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A report commissioned by Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed underscores the need for a strong community college in the District of Columbia. The report, conducted by JBL Associates, recognizes the steps already taken by the new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) and recommends that the city support CCDC in moving towards independence from the University of the District of Columbia, with its own administration, board of trustees, budget and academic accreditation.

Completing College at America's Public Universities

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 16, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

On September 16, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings hosted an event to discuss Crossing the Finish Line (Princeton University Press, October 2009), which examines degree attainment at America's public universities. President Obama has committed the nation to the goal of producing the world's highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.

International Studies: How America’s Mania for College Rankings Went Global

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Higher education is fast becoming a global enterprise as students and professors hopscotch from nation to nation. Yet in this new world of mobility and competition, challenges to America’s educational primacy are inevitable—and international rankings are the means by which those challenges are most likely to arrive, writes Ben Wildavsky. A process is already under way to expand international rankings beyond the metrics of reputation and research to include measures of classroom learning. However, this could be both traumatic and useful for the American higher education system.

The Future of Student Financial Aid

Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 26, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

President Obama has committed to the goal of having the world's highest rate of college graduates by 2020. The funding and delivery of student financial aid will be critical to reaching that goal. To that end, the president has announced plans for an overhaul of the federal college loan system. The Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings hosted an event to explore ways of improving the effectiveness of student financial aid.

Budget 2010: New Investments in Transforming America’s Schools and Workforce

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The detailed FY 2010 federal budget reveals many elements of the administration’s strategy to achieve needed reforms in schooling and worker skills. Alan Berube analyzes the significant steps in the departments of Education and Labor budgets toward a national economic strategy that invests strategically in human capital to improve our collective prosperity.

A New Goal for America’s High Schools: College Preparation for All

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this policy brief, a companion to the volume of The Future of Children devoted to high school reforms, Ron Haskins and James Kemple examine the steps high schools should take to help low-income students prepare for and succeed in college. Specifically, they argue, high schools should boost students’ subject matter knowledge and study skills and counsel students on how to select colleges and obtain financial aid.

The Role of High Schools in Preparing Disadvantaged Students for College

Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 14, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

On May 14, The Future of Children, a joint project between Princeton University and the Brookings Institution, will release a policy brief discussing the steps high schools should take to help low-income students prepare for postsecondary education. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), the former superintendent of the Denver schools, will deliver the keynote address.

Promoting Economic Mobility by Increasing Postsecondary Education

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many low-income students miss out on college because they don’t know how much it actually costs or how to get access to billions of dollars in financial aid, says Ron Haskins. That’s why improving the equality of educational opportunity—a traditional American value—is one key to promoting economic mobility for disadvantaged students.

Community Colleges and the National Economy

Fri, 08 May 2009 10:21:07 GMT

Alan Berube says community colleges offer educational opportunities to a growing number of students and are a critical part of the national economy and our metropolitan areas.

Transforming America’s Community Colleges: A Federal Policy Proposal To Expand Opportunity and Promote Economic Prosperity

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To renew America’s status as the world’s leader in college attainment, the federal government needs to transform America’s community colleges and equip them for the 21st century. This report outlines a structure for this long-overdue investment and proposes to establish national goals and a related performance measurement system; provide resources to drive college performance toward those goals; and stimulate greater innovation to enhance the quality of sub-baccalaureate education.

Human Capital and Support for Low-Income Workers

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alan Berube analyzes how President Obama's first budget places hopeful new emphasis on graduating more students from college. Community colleges enroll increasing numbers of students, but for several reasons fail to graduate most of them—particularly those from lower-income backgrounds—through to a degree or certificate.

Stimulus for America’s Community Colleges

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Enrollment in community colleges is surging, driven by a tough economy and increasing skills requirements for gainful employment. Sarah Goldrick-Rab and Alan Berube explain that this environment, as well as longer-term economic growth imperatives, calls for a focused federal commitment to community colleges in order to boost educational attainment.

The Stimulus Package Should Help Workers Get Retrained

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although many ideas have been floated for the incoming administration’s stimulus package, Gary Burtless urges that funds to be used for the nation’s worker training system, which can help equip unemployed and underemployed workers find good jobs when the economy begins to recover and can reduce the number of jobless workers who are looking for work.

The Local Economic Impact of “Eds & Meds”: How Policies to Expand Universities and Hospitals Affect Metropolitan Economies

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Metropolitan Economy Initiative examination of the impact of policies to expand health care and higher finds that such a strategy would raise the earnings of metropolitan residents by roughly the same amount as conventional business tax incentives.

The Impact of Increases in Pell Grant Awards on College-going among Lower Income Youth

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

David Mundel and Lois Rice discuss the results of a recent experiment about the effect of grant programs on college attendance among lower-income youth.

American Education in the Middle East: Smart Power for a New Era

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 21, 2008, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

On November 21, the Middle East Youth Initiative at the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings hosted David Arnold, president of the American University in Cairo, for a discussion on the future of American-style higher education in the Middle East. The discussion will highlight the growing ties between U.S. colleges and universities and their counterparts in the Middle East and the role of such institutions in promoting social and economic development in the region.

Changing the Game: The Federal Role in Supporting 21st Century Educational Innovation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To resolve dramatic disparities in educational achievement and ensure future American workers are globally competitive, the federal government needs to change the game by catalyzing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in public education. A new office within the Department of Education should partner with the private sector, philanthropy, and state/local governments to scale up successful educational entrepreneurs and seed transformative educational innovations.

When Learning Has a Limit

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Record numbers of students aspire to higher education. But, are far too many young people with inherent intellectual limitations being pushed to advance academically when they are “just not smart enough?” Ben Wildavsky argues that this deterministic vision of education, where IQ scores matter more than teaching, curriculum or effort, makes way for what is essentially an IQ-elite.

Viewing Education Loans Through a Myopic Lens

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Although the federal government dedicated nearly $40 billion to funding student loans in 2006, only 60 percent of potential students from low-income families attend college, compared with 90 percent from high-income families. Sima J. Gandhi argues that enrollment rates are lower than they could be because potential students undervalue loan subsidies, which are delivered after graduation instead of up front when a student enrolls and incurs costs.

MetroPolicy for a MetroNation

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To unleash greater local and national prosperity, U.S. metropolitan leaders need to be better equipped to deal with today’s increasingly dynamic economic, social and environmental realities. This summary outlines a new federal-state-metro partnership that provides metropolitan actors the support, capacity, tools and discretion they need to resolve key challenges; grow in more productive, inclusive, and sustainable ways; and, ultimately, to maximize America’s overall prosperity.

MetroPolicy: Shaping a New Federal Partnership for a Metropolitan Nation

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To unleash greater local and national prosperity U.S. metropolitan leaders need to be better equipped to deal with today’s increasingly dynamic economic, social and environmental realities. This report calls for a new federal-state-metro partnership that provides metropolitan actors the support, capacity, tools and discretion they need to resolve key challenges; grow in more productive, inclusive, and sustainable ways; and, ultimately, to maximize America’s overall prosperity.

Envisioning Opportunity: Three Options for a Community College in Washington, D.C.

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Of the 50 largest cities in the United States, Washington, D.C. is the only one without a fully fledged community college. Washington needs a community college in order to provide all District residents with increased opportunities for employment and further education in an affordable and flexible manner, argue the authors of this report, who offer three options for creating a community college in the nation's capital.

Commercializing University Innovations: A Better Way

Tue, 15 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As technologies have grown more sophisticated and emerging industries have become more high-tech, universities have become more important players in the processes of invention, innovation, and commercialization. Robert E. Litan, Lesa Mitchell and E.J. Reedy anticipate universities playing an even more important role in the innovation process in the future.

Subsidizing Higher Education through Tax and Spending Programs

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In 1997, Congress enacted a number of tax benefits directed toward helping middle- and upper-middle income groups meet rising college costs. This shift in goals and strategies raises concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the evolving federal approach to higher education. This policy brief analyzes who benefits from the major direct spending program, Pell grants, and the three tax subsidies that most closely resemble grants, the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits and the deduction for tuition and fees.

The Role of Education in Promoting Opportunity and Economic Growth

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 29, 2007, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Strengthening Higher Education: Simplify Student Aid & Emphasize Vital Science, Math, and Language Skills

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For higher education, the next President should mount a determined effort, in concert with states and local school districts, to boost the academic performance of low achievers by taking steps outlined in this paper.

College Grants on a Postcard: A Proposal for Simple and Predictable Federal Student Aid

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The federal system of student financial aid is broken. Information about aid eligibility is hidden behind a thicket of complicated paperwork, and is also highly uncertain. Concrete information arrives just a few months before or even months after students enroll in college— far too late to affect enrollment decisions. Economic theory and evidence suggest that the costs of complexity and uncertainty are high: many high school students won't even start on the path to college if they aren't certain they can afford it. Capable students teetering on the margin of college entry are thus discouraged from going to college by its price, even though aid is available to them. This is a waste of human potential.

Opportunity in America: Does Education Promote Social Mobility?

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 19, 2006, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Higher Education In Pennsylvania: A Competitive Asset For Communities

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this presentation at the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities Annual Convention, Jennifer Vey describes how Pennsylvania's higher education institutions are a major competitive asset for the state and its localities.

Higher Education in Pennsylvania: A Competitive Asset for Communities

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this presentation, Amy Liu describes why the high number of higher education institutions in the state of Pennsylvania is a competitive asset to the state and recommends ways the state can better leverage the role of higher ed as partners in achie

Higher Education in Pennsylvania: A Competitive Asset for Communities

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

In this paper, Jennifer Vey surveys Pennsylvania's higher education landscape and its economic impact, proposing a number of policy approaches to boost town and gown collaboration.

Equity and Excellence in American Higher Education

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 29, 2005, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Who Needs Harvard?

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Gregg Easterbrook, The Atlantic Monthly (October 2004)

Funding Restrictions at Public Universities: Effects and Policy Implications

Wed, 10 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Thomas J. Kane and Peter R. Orszag (9/10/03)

Higher Education Spending: The Role of Medicaid and the Business Cycle

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Policy Brief #124 by Thomas J. Kane and Peter R. Orszag. (September 2003)

Washington: Number One In College Degrees

Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:00:00 GMT

This survey analyzes Census data from 1980-2000 and finds that the Washington region has one of the most highly educated populations in the country--42 percent of the adult population has at least a bachelor's degree, and 19 percent have graduate deg

Saving For College? It Will Cost You

Sun, 06 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Henry J. Aaron and Melissa A. Cox (4/06/03)

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 09:15:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 1999 at 9:15 AM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 1999 at 9:30 AM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 00:00:00 GMT

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June 25, 1999 at 12:00 AM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 1999 at 9:00 AM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 14:00:00 GMT

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June 25, 1999 at 2:00 PM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 15:30:00 GMT

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June 25, 1999 at 3:30 PM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 11:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 1999 at 11:30 AM

Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 1999 at 1:00 PM

Higher Education: Cities? Hidden Asset

Sun, 14 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT

An Oped by Bruce Katz, Senior Fellow and Director, Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, in The Philadelphia Daily News, February 14, 1999