Jacob Murray

Educator

While steady progress has been made, there remain concerning trends around college completion for Boston’s students of color

But perhaps a more critical, more soul-searching and for many -- antithetical -- question ... is whether college completion is the right goal 

Should College Be The Goal For All Students?

Boston Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang observes a class at the Boston International High School. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

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Commentary

Boston

Education

News

Opinion

At the root of the problem is an unsustainable business model based on increasing enrollments and ever-rising tuition rates

... education will increasingly happen wherever learners are

It's Time For Small Colleges To Rethink The 'Campus' Experience 

A photo from a graduation ceremony at Mount Ida College. (Courtesy Mount Ida via Facebook)

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Life

Technology

Only about half of U.S. college students complete school within six years of first enrolling, and that rate has been declining. 

Google and Ernst &amp; Young, for example, stress demonstrated skill proficiency rather than college degrees in their hiring processes.

It's No Longer 'College Or Bust'

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commentary

Business

Five years in, UMass Boston is staring at a potential $30 million deficit, stagnant enrollment, lower than expected fundraising and no financial relief in sight.

In Changing Higher Ed Landscape, UMass Boston Gambled — And Lost

Even as state aid has languished, the UMass system has embarked on a building spree. Pictured here: The Integrated Sciences Complex at UMass Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

The Integrated Sciences Complex at UMass Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

...gap year students arrive on campus more mature, confident and focused on school and career goals than traditional students do.

So, what’s not to like about a gap year? The cost – as much as $30,000...

Go Away: In Praise Of The Gap Year, For All Students

Jacob Murray: "[Students] volunteer in homeless shelters in New York, animal rescue organizations in Thailand or hospitals in Cape Town. They work on farms in Central America, ranches in Canada or film crews in New Zealand." (Will Ellis/flickr)

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family

policy

The Chinese education system, Zhao writes, has impeded native entrepreneurship.

...over-testing, and testing used primarily as a means to rank students, teachers or schools based on how well they retain content-knowledge and skills is not helpful.

Overtesting And China: A Cautionary Tale

Jacob Murray: Too much testing may impede innovation, creativity, divergent thinking and individuality among generations of students. (albertogp123/flickr)

Jacob Murray

Recently published

Should College Be The Goal For All Students?

Cognoscenti

It's Time For Small Colleges To Rethink The 'Campus' Experience

Cognoscenti

It's No Longer 'College Or Bust'

Cognoscenti

In Changing Higher Ed Landscape, UMass Boston Gambled — And Lost

Cognoscenti

Go Away: In Praise Of The Gap Year, For All Students

Cognoscenti

Overtesting And China: A Cautionary Tale

Cognoscenti