By Jesse O’Connell Like most crises, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a whipsaw effect. On one hand, it’s wildly disruptive and distracting, reordering our routines and upending every aspect of normal life. But sudden upheaval also brings the opportunity to challenge long-held assumptions about the status quo. …

By Jesse O’Connell The federal government’s long-awaited final new regulations for accrediting postsecondary institutions are out — and the results are mixed. We see some encouraging steps forward, but also some troubling oversights. In short, there is still plenty of work to do. The Department of Education announced these new…

By Jesse O’Connell Pay attention to electoral politics long enough and you’re sure to hear the pundit’s admonition that a successful candidate campaigns in poetry and governs in prose. Though not exactly an actionable piece of advice (so, my policies should… rhyme?) what’s captured here is the intuitive sense that…

Federal policy must first look beyond efforts that merely increase college enrollment. We must do that — but while also increasing student success and never compromising on quality. By Jesse O’Connell It is spring in Washington, D.C. I know this because it was 70 degrees on Saturday and 35 degrees…

By Jesse O’Connell and Haley Glover By now you, along with the rest of America, have heard about the college admissions scandal setting higher education ablaze. Federal authorities charged dozens of people this week with participating in a scam to sell admissions slots at some of the country’s most selective…

This should be encouraging for communities across the nation. It means that even if you lack certain kinds of infrastructure or cultural amenities, you can still cultivate a thriving workforce that is attractive to employers of all stripes. By Jesse O’Connell Dakota Pawlicki Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus…

By Jesse O’Connell If you were making one of the most important and expensive decisions of your life, how much of the necessary information would you want to have? About 100 percent? 75 percent? Would you settle for 50 percent? Probably not. You would want as much information as possible…

The story of America is a story of continual reinvention. A nation of farms became a nation of industry became a nation of digital enterprise. Yet not all reinvention is voluntary. After 115 years of operating independently, Xerox announced its agreement to combine with Fujifilm Holdings. …

The Free College Movement Must Not Leave Adults Behind Nearly two years ago we told you about Damaris Ortiz, who was born in Mexico and immigrated to California in her teens. English wasn’t her first language, but she worked hard and found academic success in high school. Still, she struggled…