No Stinkin’ Badges? Mozilla’s Erin Knight on “Open Badges” (Video)

NEBHE held its University Unbound conference in Boston last month, bringing together more than 400 educators and opinion leaders to discuss how MOOCs and other innovations are disrupting higher education's hold on knowledge, instruction and credentialing. Here is some of what Mozilla's Erin Knight said about her "Open Badges" work—an alternative credentialing system allowing learners to cont...

Terms of Assessment: NE Events Revisit the 2012 Election

MassINC will examine the outcomes of the national and statewide elections and the implications for politics and policy on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. at Emerson College's Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston. "Behind the Curtain: What Just Happened? What's Next?" will feature panel discussions moderated by former ABC news anchor Carole Simpson and award-winning host of WBUR’s On...

Titanic Diver Among New Englanders NEBHE Will Honor with 2013 Excellence Awards

University of Rhode Island oceanography professor Robert Ballard, known for the discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic, will be among luminaries recognized by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) in March 2013 at the regional organization's 11th annual New England Higher Education Excellence Awards. Each year, NEBHE presents Regional Excellence Awards to individuals and organizatio...

Education Department’s Nassif on 2020 Goal (Video)

NEBHE held its University Unbound conference in mid-October, bringing together more than 400 educators and opinion leaders to discuss how MOOCs, open badges and other innovations are disrupting higher education's hold on knowledge, instruction and credentialing. Here is some of what U.S. Education Department special advisor Rosemarie Nassif had to say in an interview with NEJHE during the conferen...

A Vote for Smart Infrastructure in New England

A $1 billion investment in smart infrastructure could create nearly 27,000 jobs and increase New England’s GDP by $9 billion, according to a new report by the New England Council (NEC) and Deloitte Development LLC. The report, “Smart Infrastructure in New England:  An investment for growth and prosperity” was released at a NEC breakfast meeting in Boston last week. “Smart Infrastruc...

Former NEBHE Prez Bob Weygand to Leave URI Position

Former NEBHE President and U.S. Congressman Robert A. Weygand will leave his position as the University of Rhode Island's vice president for administration and finance at the end of the fiscal year in June 2013."I will have served in this role for more than nine years, a long time by national standards," he said. "I must admit, it seems like it was yesterday that I started."Since taking the URI po...

Changes for Long-Serving NE Higher Ed Leaders

Among recent comings and goings, Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., president of Saint Anselm College, announced he will retire in June 2013, after leading the college since 1989. Bunker Hill Community College President Mary L. Fifield also announced she will retire in June, after 16 years.Don Vickers said he also will retire as president and CEO of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC)...

Pew Words About Student Debt

Nearly one in five American households maintains student loan debt, up from 15% in 2007 and 10% in 1989, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center.The report also states that rates of student loan debt increased in every demographic group and economic category, and is particularly acute in the bottom and top fifth of income earners.Heightened national awareness of the increase in s...

A for Effort? MOE Rules and Higher Ed Funding

Federal maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions play an important role in state funding of higher education, according to a new report by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).The MOE provisions require states to maintain a minimum level of state aid to public and private higher education institutions in order for states to receive federal funds. In most cases, the min...

SHEEO’s Open Letter to the 2012 Presidential Candidates

The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) group issued an open letter to President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Change Magazine’s September/October edition.In the letter, SHEEO President Paul Lingenfelter asks the next presidential candidate to sustain federal investment in research and development (R&D) and provide necessary levels of federal need-ba...