By Beth Akers and Stuart M. Butler. The Obama Administration recently announced  a new experimental initiative that, for the first time, will allow non-accredited institutions to gain access to the federal student aid program.  This initiative, which will be limited to 10 experimental sites, will make it possible for students to use Pell grants and federal student loans to finance investments in education at accredited colleges and universities that make extensive use of new and innovative models that haven’t yet received a stamp of approval from the system of accreditation – such as MOOCs, which are becoming increasingly popular alternatives. More...

By Brad Hershbein. The movement for “free college”—at least at the two-year level—continues to build (see Sara Goldrick-Rab’s piece in this series). Hopes are high that free college would mean that more students, especially those from lower-income families, would attend and complete programs that help them get better jobs and improve social mobility. More...

By Ben Backes. In the coming months, the Supreme Court will consider—again—whether UT Austin’s use of racial preferences in undergraduate admissions decisions violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. More...

By Gabriel Zinny. Some of the never-before-seen phenomena of today— rapidly expanding connectivity, mobile entrepreneurship, the breakdown of traditional corporate relationships, the global skills gap—have left students facing unexpected pressures, as well as unimagined opportunities. It’s clear that the use of technology is now key for everyone hoping to join the labor force. More...

By Deborah Hermanns. The Conservatives’ ideological vision is working towards a US-style, fully private education system: students will march against this next week. More...

By Lloyd Strickland. They thought, therefore they were, and that was that. But if they’d been assessed by the Ref, who’d have got most stars?
Today’s philosophers are used to dancing to the tune of the Research Excellence Framework (Ref). They have to publish their articles in reputable journals and their books with university presses. They have to generate impact and contribute to their research environment. More...

By Nick Hillman. The government wants to cut welfare and increase wages. Fine, says a new report, but boosting skills is the way to do it. More...

By Adam Rutherford. From Newton to Higgs, British science has helped shaped the world. Cutting its funding is not just shortsighted, it’s illogical. More...

By Severin Carrell. Almost 20,000 less well-off students take annual loans averaging nearly £5,900 after grant support fell to lowest level in decade. More...

By Kieron Flanagan, David Walker and James Wilsdon. Whatever the outcome of November’s spending review, uncertainties about the size and shape of the UK’s research system are set to persist well into 2016. More...