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Jan 4, 2025 | 
independent.org | Richard Vedder
As I have written elsewhere Jimmy Carter had many redeeming personal qualities often lacking in todays American political leadership. But his policies also did a good deal of harm, most notably in higher education.
Two developments of the Carter years have had lasting harmful effects. First, under Carter, the federal student loan programs began to explode.
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Dec 11, 2024 | 
independent.org | Richard Vedder
Yesterdays assessment of Jay Bhattacharyas appointment as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was written before I had seen two excellent weekend Wall Street Journal stories on the Trump appointee. In a news story by Liz Essley Whyte, Bhattacharya indicated he wanted to use his clout to nudge universities into much-needed reform. Dr. Bhattacharya is keenly aware that scientific discovery and advancement require openness to new and often unorthodox ideas.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
mindingthecampus.org | Richard Vedder
zero comment Editor’s Note: This essay is the second installment of a two-part series. You can read Part 1 here. Yesterday’s assessment of Jay Bhattacharya’s appointment as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was written before I had seen two excellent weekend Wall Street Journal stories on the Trump appointee. In a news story by Liz Essley Whyte, Bhattacharya indicated he wanted to use his clout to nudge universities into much-needed reform.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
independent.org | Richard Vedder
Probably the most important federal funder of traditional advanced research is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
mindingthecampus.org | Richard Vedder
zero comment Probably the most important federal funder of traditional advanced research is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
independent.org | Richard Vedder
Writing four centuries ago, John Donne memorably opined, No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. He memorably concluded, Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
The bells in Donnes era were rung by the church upon the death of parishioners.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
jamesgmartin.center | Richard Vedder
Writing four centuries ago, John Donne memorably opined, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” He memorably concluded, “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”The “bells” in Donne’s era were rung by the church upon the death of parishioners.
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Nov 20, 2024 | 
independent.org | Richard Vedder
For decades, international testing data have shown that the United States, for all its leadership in technological innovation and economic success, has been, at best, so-so in teaching fundamental knowledge to young Americans. Moreover, the situation appears to have worsened, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has not recovered to anemic pre-pandemic levels since.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
mindingthecampus.org | Richard Vedder
zero comment For decades, international testing data have shown that the United States, for all its leadership in technological innovation and economic success, has been, at best, so-so in teaching fundamental knowledge to young Americans. Moreover, the situation appears to have worsened, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has not recovered to anemic pre-pandemic levels since.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
mindingthecampus.org | Richard Vedder
zero comment During a brief stint working for Congress decades ago, I used the expression “cheaters, liars, and robbers” to help locate the three House office buildings: Cannon, Longworth, and Rayburn. Those three words unfortunately describe much academic misconduct that is potentially shaking the very foundation of trust and support in American higher education. CheatersCheating pervades campuses.
