On Campus Blog

March 20, 2014 6:26 AM

Notes in the Margins: Portugal’s hazing, America’s worries and Michigan’s free-college idea

Student Deaths Spark Debate Over Hazing at Portugal’s Universities Where academic achievement has often failed to create distinction, hazing, known as praxes in Portuguese, has taken on a new and prominent place at the country’s newer private universities, with some having their identity closely tied to the ritual. (The New York Times) A different way Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 19, 2014 8:23 AM

Gates foundation eyes MnSCU

Looks like MnSCU’s Charting the Future plan caught the eye of the Gates Foundation. Got this announcement today: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has been selected by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to join a nationwide group of higher education systems learning about higher education transformation at a system level and solving collective issues Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 19, 2014 8:13 AM

College of Saint Benedict names new president

This announcement from St. Ben’s: College of Saint Benedict names Mary Hinton as 15th President Mary Hinton has been selected as the 15th president of the College of Saint Benedict. Hinton, who currently serves as the vice president for academic affairs at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, will take office on June 15, Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 17, 2014 6:05 AM

Notes in the Margins: Gainful employment, paid gap years and the SAT decline

Are American students grossly unprepared for college? It has become a common refrain from school reformers that a very large percentage of high school graduates must take remedial classes when they get to college. Are they right? (The Washington Post) Very Minor Changes to Department of Education’s ‘Gainful Employment’ Rule As a result of the proposed change Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 14, 2014 5:43 AM

Notes in the Margins: Patent trolls, info blackouts and academics’ mental illness

New Obama administration proposal to regulate for-profit colleges The Obama administration is proposing to tighten oversight of for-profit colleges through new rules that seek to limit how much debt students can amass in career-training programs. The proposal, to be announced Friday, is the administration’s second try at regulationssetting standards for what colleges must do to ensure graduates of Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 13, 2014 1:07 PM

What UMD students need to do before entering the dining hall

Right across from the UMD dining hall is a room for students to put their backpacks. That’s because those things aren’t allowed in. Why? Students tend to smuggle food out. One dining hall employee told me they’ve tried to walk off with sandwiches, cold cuts, desserts — even whole pies. Apparently it’s a freshman thing.

by Alex Friedrich

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March 13, 2014 12:51 PM

What UMD and Minnesota’s American Indians mean to each other

Aside from the beauty of the area, UMD has found another benefit to its location: It’s in the heart of Indian country. Located in what some jokingly call “the Ojibwe Riviera” — with access to more than half a dozen reservations within a 90-minute drive — UMD has an American Indian presence unmatched by most Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 13, 2014 11:59 AM

What are those flashing UMD stop signs all about?

You have to look really closely in this video, but UMD has these solar-powered stop signs ringed with little lights that flash when cars approach. I can’t quite figure out the effect it’s supposed to have, but it’s pretty. It may have something to do with this.

by Alex Friedrich

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March 13, 2014 10:11 AM

What the food is like at UMD

When I ate breakfast and lunch at UMD’s dining hall, I thought I was back in college. Back in 1984. That’s necessarily not a bad thing. I don’t have any bad memories of the food back then, and my old cafeteria did have a few standout dishes. UMD’s fare is middling, workmanlike — better than Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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March 13, 2014 9:27 AM

What’s there to do in the adventure hub of UMD?

OK, this is getting a little awkward. Adam Chenoweth is helping me put on a snowshoe, and I can’t quite figure out how the straps go. The 21-year-old environmental-and-outdoor-education junior has already put on my left snowshoe for me, and is now guiding me how to put the right one on. It’s all spaghetti to Read more →

by Alex Friedrich

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