By Eric Stoller. Consulting is oftentimes an exercise in troubleshooting or problem solving. Schools bring me in to talk about social media, strategic communications, and/or digital identity. That's the initial premise and while I end up covering the things that I'm "supposed to," there's more to it. Organizational change takes center stage. Divisions and departments don't always recognize it, but they are actually hiring me to assist in working through how they create change. One of the most consistent aspects in my work is the concept of time allocation. Everyone wants to jump in and implement social media tactics and while that is admirable, that is not step one. The beginning task for most people, the part that is the most difficult, is the act of carving out enough time to become fluent at whatever it is they want to do. Read more...

By Damtew Teferra. At a conference this month to honor the work of Philip G. Altbach, a number of regional and international issues of the field were presented by world’s leaders in international higher education. It became clear that the issues that confront different regions of the world are basically similar from access to funding, from quality to unemployment. This editorial is prompted by this dialogue and focuses on the opportunities and ramifications of expanding access to higher education in Africa.
The Growth—and the Gains
The unprecedented expansion of the higher education system in Africa is often described as “massive” Still, the enrollment rate hovers around 5-6 percent. Martin Trow’s taxonomy of higher education recognizes three stages— elite, massive and universal. Africa, with a single-digit enrollment rate uncomfortably sits on the “elite” landscape—far removed from mass access and light years away from universal access. Africa has  many mountains yet to climb to move beyond elite. Read more...

By Dana Campbell. I opened my email account yesterday to find a note from my library: 25 items I had requested were being held for me at our local branch (?!?)  I thought it was a mistake until I realized that the notice was actually regarding my younger daughter’s library account (for which my email is the correspondence address).  She had evidently figured out the online library system and reserved all the “Baby Blues” comic strip books she could find. The library has an impressive number, as it turns out.
Baby Blues, a syndicated newspaper strip about life in a family with three young energetic children and two exhausted parents, has been my daughter’s obsession for a long time now. Read more...

By Dr. Terence Fitzgerald. Upon recently reading the New York Times op-ed piece by Ross Douthat, The Secrets of Princeton, I am reminded of Dr. Joe Feagin’s words:
White racism today remains “‘normal’” and deeply imbedded in most historically white institutions. Every such institution is still substantially whitewashed in its important norms, rules, and arrangements…it seems likely that a majority of whites cannot see just how whitewashed their historically white organizations and institutions really are.
The editorial piece discusses a recent submission from guest contributor of The Daily Princetonian and Princeton alumna, Susan Patton, who controversially declared that the women of Princeton should, “Find a husband on campus before you graduate.” She goes on to say:
I am the mother of two sons who are both Princetonians. My older son had the good judgment and great fortune to marry a classmate of his, but he could have married anyone. My younger son is a junior and the universe of women he can marry is limitless… As Princeton women, we have almost priced ourselves out of the market. Simply put, there is a very limited population of men who are as smart or smarter than we are. And I say again — you will never again be surrounded by this concentration of men who are worthy of you. Read more...