By Aimee Hosler. The topic of unions is often deeply politicized in the United States, though many people likely agree that their purpose is to advocate for workers in employer negotiations. A newly minted union agreement between a college and its graduate students -- not paid employees -- might force us to reconsider that definition.
New York University graduate assistants voted overwhelmingly to join the United Automobile Workers last week, reports The New York Times, making it the only graduate assistants' union in the country to be recognized by a private university. Contract negotiations for the new U.A.W. affiliate -- which will include about 1,247 graduate students from NYU and its Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn -- are expected to begin within the next few weeks. Matt Canfield, a fifth-year anthropology doctoral student, told The New York Times that he believes the move could press the school to improve health coverage for students, who saw a large jump in premiums last year. See more...

By Susan Snyder. As higher education comes under increased pressure to prove its worth, two local college presidents argue in a new book that the liberal arts play a vital role in educating the world's leaders and problem-solvers. 
While many colleges are aimed at preparing students for a profession or career, liberal arts colleges develop critical thinkers who are able to cross disciplines, said Daniel H. Weiss, president of Haverford College, one of the nation's most highly selective and expensive small liberal arts colleges. More...

By Karen Weise. With tuition on the rise and student debt now totaling more than $1.2 trillion, it’s no wonder students are increasingly questioning the value of college. Presidents of small schools are claiming a liberal arts degree is vital, and the federal government is trying to figure out how to determine which schools are worthy of its funding. There’s been greater focus on measuring what alumni earn after graduation, and now, Gallup’s getting into the act, saying the value is about more than money. More...

By PhoePetitebe Maltz Bovy. Many institutions claim to evaluate applicants based on who they are as people rather than simply looking at test scores and grades—an approach that incites anxiety in students and parents alike. College applicants these days take the admissions process so personally. Not because today’s youth can’t face disappointment, but because the system for applying to selective colleges in the United States asks students to view the process as, well, personal. This begins when students decide where to apply. As an applicant, you’re urged to find the school that’s most in line with your “personality.” Then comes the college admissions essay. Even students not the least bit inclined to confessional writing are asked to spill to strangers (and to parents who may be reading the thing over). You’re invited to show your truest self by sharing a story you might normally reserve for close friends. More...

By Gregory Ferenstein. California’s radical experiment in massively open online courses (MOOCs) is not so radical anymore. San Jose State University will scale back the number of purely online courses and restrict them to enrolled students. “The goal right now is to focus on providing access to all CSU [California State University] students, including SJSU students,” San Jose State University spokesperson Patricia Harris said to me in an email. More...

By Hayleigh Colombo. Purdue University is partnering with Gallup, the global polling and consulting organization, in the name of higher education accountability. 
The organizations are calling the new joint venture announced the Gallup-Purdue Index, which they say will facilitate the “largest representative study of college graduates in U.S. history.” The index aims to create a national benchmark that evaluates the long-term success of graduates, measured by indicators including career and life satisfaction. More...