The president of Michigan State University Lou Anna Simon answers a question after being confronted by former MSU gymnast Lidsey Lemke during a recess at the sentencing hearing of Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison this week for sexual crimes.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
hide caption
alternating title
Scott Olson / Getty Images
The president of Michigan State University, Lou Anna Simon answers a question after being confronted by former MSU gymnast Lidsey Lemke during a break at the sentencing hearing of Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison this week for sexual crimes.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our weekly news magazine on education. First up …
The Michigan State University athletic director resigned over the sexual abuse scandal
Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison this week for sexual crimes after a dramatic trial. More than 150 young women, including the Olympic medalists, made impressive impact statements about the victims. In addition to his role as a physician for the USA Gymnastics team, Nassar spent nearly two decades as a professor at Michigan State University and physician of the team for athletes there.
On Wednesday, President Lou Anna Simon announced his resignation. "I am very sorry that a reputable and reputable doctor was actually an evil and evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment," he wrote in his public statement.
On Friday, the director of athletics at the university, Mark Hollis, also resigned. "I'm not running away from anything," Hollis wrote, announcing his retirement. "I'm running towards something, comfort, compassion and understanding for the survivors and our community: union, time and love for my family"
The exits occur in the midst of an avalanche of civil lawsuits and as state legislators, the NCAA and the Michigan Attorney General analyze the handling of the case by MSU.
The university must approach the demands of the workforce, say Senators and DeVos
The committee also discussed the innovations that are supposed to make the university more efficient, including predictive analytics software and competency-based education that measures learning, not seat time, things we've discussed here, here and here.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, sounded similar notes in a speech before the Conference of Mayors of the United States. She quoted Israel's ambassador to the United States. UU., Asking "Why did not the US higher education bubble explode?" He praised the collaboration between educators and employers and faster paths to workforce-ready skills, such as "recognized industry certificates, two-year degrees, stackable credits, credentials and licenses, advanced degrees, badges, four-year degrees , micro degrees, apprentices. "
Teachers must help students develop socially and emotionally, says commission
The National Commission for Social, Emotional and Academic Development The Aspen Institute published a report this week detailing its findings so far on how students learn. His conclusion? The evidence is clear that students develop socially and emotionally while at school.
It seems somewhat obvious, however, schools still conceive of the work they are doing primarily as an academic. The report argues that teacher training should encompass social and emotional development in greater detail and that educators should pay special attention to the ways in which adversity and trauma affect the brain and affect student learning.
The commission, which includes scientists, educators and parents, will spend the next year focusing on ways in which schools can implement the "integral development of the child."
Tax deductions for homeschoolers have been proposed
Days before President Trump issued an official proclamation declaring last week National School Choice Week, a congressman presented a bill to grant tax exemptions to families that educate their children at home. The bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Luke Messer of Indiana, is similar to a provision that was dropped at the last minute of last month's deep fiscal review. The measure would allow parents to use the money from 529 savings plans to pay for home education costs, such as books, online educational materials and tutoring. Messer is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus.
Before the review, the 529 savings could only be used to cover the costs of higher education. Now, parents can also use the accounts to cover the private expenses of K-12 school.
Return of short-term, longer-term university endowments
After a bad year last year, university endowment yields increased by 12.2 percent in the year fiscal that ends in June 2017, was reported this week. However, the average annual yield during the last decade continues to fall. This volatility in returns raises concerns, especially because the recent tax package includes a new tax on universities with large endowments.
Students can get their money back from ITT Tech
ITT Technical Institute, once a large for-profit university, is bankrupt, and a federal judge ruled this week that the former students must have the possibility of obtaining the money that remains at the end of the process.
In the fall of 2016, ITT Tech closed its 137 campuses across the country and filed for bankruptcy. The for-profit university was then investigated for predatory lending practices and false advertising. A year ago, alumni filed a lawsuit to make sure they would participate in the bankruptcy proceedings of ITT Educational Services, the parent company of ITT Tech.
According to the new ruling, students who attended school between 2006 and 2016 will be released from the nearly $ 600 million in outstanding payments owed to the school, and will receive reimbursements for payments they have already made. These students will now join many other groups, including former employees, in the line of any of the company's remaining assets.
Be First to Comment