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A Google Maps for the Scholarly Landscape?

September 12, 2011, 7:49 pm

By Brock Read

Keeping track of new research in your field can feel like finding your way through a sprawling city. But a trio of scientists has created a set of tools that might help scholars find their way around. Jennifer Howard, a Chronicle reporter, discusses the team’s research and its implications.

Read Jennifer’s story: Maps of Citations Uncover New Fields of Scholarship
Download this recording: MP3 Version

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  • lizziec

    In my opinion, the non-profits are not without blemish or blame here. Highed education is too expensive almost everywhere (I would leave the non-profit, public community colleges OUT of this conversation).

    I think your proposal (or observation on the perceived solution) that colleges may need to provide stepped-cost education has merit, especially when we know that faculty in certain high-paying professions are paid more than other faculty.

    I for one hope that this issue (Gainful Employment) helps to clean up all of education.

  • dkalsbeek

    “Among the top colleges in loan volume in 2009-10 whose ranking can’t be
    explained by high enrollments: New York University, Liberty University,
    the University of Southern California, DePaul University, George
    Washington University…”     In fact,  NYU, USC, DePaul and GW are all among the top 10 largest private, not-for-profit universities in the US – all exceeding 25,000 enrollments.  Liberty, including its on-line enrollments, exceeds 70,000 I believe.     What is meant by saying high loan volume can’t be explained by high enrollments at these schools? The facts suggest exactly the opposite.

    Generally, though, ‘gainful employment’ will indeed be a game-changer in how all universities think about the financial obligations of its graduates as institutions consider pricing and aid strategies.  As with all things, however, it’s not hard to see how the unintended consequences of these new sensitivities and accountabilities will work against goals of access and attainment for the neediest, rather than in favor of them.        

  • bigtwin

    Information about whether a degree leads to gainful employment is important for students to have.  Yet colleges seem the least willing to provide it, or worse, provide misinformation about the actual chances for employment with a degree.  If this forces colleges to be more accountable and transparent, I support the change.

  • jefftylerpmp

    I noticed that none of the Ivy-League “Not-For-Profit” colleges were on the list of top colleges in loan volume compared to enrollment. Interesting. :)   By the way, I’m, a USC graduate.  It’s not a “Non-Profit” college by IRS standards.  It’s a private “Not-For-Profit” college.  There’s a distinct difference. :)

    • cragie

      Most of them of no-loan or low-loan policies for middle-income and middle-upper-income families.

  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/girolamis Steve Girolami

    The Dept of Ed gainful employment ruling will take a long time to trickle through to all of higher education.  Even the latest final rules extend program cancellation from poor debt-to-income outcomes to 2015.  Most ivy league and private schools perform “exit” interviews via career services and have insight to where their graduates are placed out of school and more importantly what starting salaries are, position titles, etc.  They do this because its awesome information to have and act on.  Look for accreditation requirements to change which will put more pressure on schools to keep records which will give it a measurement for change.

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