In a recent talk at UC-Irvine I mentioned that MOOC purveyors had learned lessons from the trajectory of for-profit higher education. I made a passing mention to 2tor CEO saying they would not have to build prestige; they’d borrow it instead. I thought this quote also sums up that point nicely: “We’re not Phoenix,” insistsRead More ““We’re Not Phoenix” Prestige, MOOCs, Etc.”
Tag Archives: #LowerEd
Profit, Poverty, and Policy: Going Back to California
I have a hankering for tying credentials to labor market processes and social policy. There, I said it. The cat is out of the bag. I’m just crazy enough to try to update a 50 year old literature on status competition and institutionalism with a focus on inequality. In a sign that I may, indeed,Read More “Profit, Poverty, and Policy: Going Back to California”
Profit, HigherEd and Lessons on the Prestige Cartel
My friend Aaron Bady (who may one day learn to spell my whole name!) had the foresight to publish his excellent analysis of temporality, future fetishization, and MOOC evangelism at his online home. He encouraged me to similarly publish my talk. Here’s the thing: I go off script. A lot. I mean, I go wayRead More “Profit, HigherEd and Lessons on the Prestige Cartel”
Talking MOOCs and 4profits at UC Irvine
Catherine Liu was kind enough to invite me to ruminate on for-profit higher education at UC-Irvine this week. I joined my twitter friend, Aaron Bady, in a free-wheeling discussion of MOOCs and for-profit higher education. I often find it difficult to convince those in “real” colleges that they are in dialogue with for-profit higher education.Read More “Talking MOOCs and 4profits at UC Irvine”
Things I’m Not Supposed To Say: Make It Cheaper To Fail
I came out of the closet on twitter today with an idea I’ve had for some time. Part of being a junior scholar is learning what ideological wars you don’t have the gravitas to wade into. The hyper-focus on degree completion and persistence is one of those. But since the cat is out of theRead More “Things I’m Not Supposed To Say: Make It Cheaper To Fail”
Social Legitimacy and The University of Westfield Online
I have said before that there is something about a cultural object when it crosses over into parody. It can either signal that the object’s legitimacy is so established that it’s ripe for poking a few holes. Think about a comedy sketch about bloviating Harvard professors, for instance. No one thinks the joke undermines Harvard’sRead More “Social Legitimacy and The University of Westfield Online”
The SSS Paper: “Get Off Your Couch!”
Audience members asked and I promised to provide a copy of the paper I presented this week. It is a working draft. [scribd id=138760131 key=key-ba0xc42maeb6c1v3z6i mode=scroll]
For-Profit Colleges: Organized for Urgency and Social “Pain”? SSS 2013
As has become my custom, I am posting my presentation slides ahead of the presentation that those so inclined can choose to not take notes. This is my first presentation on this data — my own data — and the project is not yet complete. This is also my first big sociology room! We’ll seeRead More “For-Profit Colleges: Organized for Urgency and Social “Pain”? SSS 2013″
Race and Grad School, Redux
I have had many interesting discussions about my essay on race, reality and “don’t go!” graduate school advice. I thank the Chronicle of Higher Ed for picking it up. I revised their printing with a clear statement that, I hoped, responded to comments I had already received on my blog: This is not an argumentRead More “Race and Grad School, Redux”
Understanding HigherEd By “Re-Visioning Emory”
I had the great honor of participating in a unique symposium event at Emory University last night. The event was student led, faculty guided, interdisciplinary, and courageously reflective. The organizers were kind to work with my last minute schedule disruptions (Atlanta traffic!) and I benefited greatly from the smart, entertaining, engaging dialogue. A student fromRead More “Understanding HigherEd By “Re-Visioning Emory””