Robert Kelchen
@robertkelchen.com
Professor & department head, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I study higher ed finance, accountability, and financial aid. Washington Monthly rankings data editor. Dad, gardener, and baker. Personal account.
https://robertkelchen.com/
https://robertkelchen.com/
New research shows that big college towns were much more resilient to the effects of the Great Recession, but got hit harder by the pandemic because of campus closures.
www.philadelphiafed.org/community-de...
www.philadelphiafed.org/community-de...
Do Research Universities Recession-Proof Their Regions? Evidence from State Flagship College Towns
WP 26-08 – Using synthetic differences-in-differences models, the authors study whether U.S. counties containing state flagship universities experienced resiliency via lower unemployment rates during the...
www.philadelphiafed.org
February 9, 2026 at 9:50 PM
New research shows that big college towns were much more resilient to the effects of the Great Recession, but got hit harder by the pandemic because of campus closures.
www.philadelphiafed.org/community-de...
www.philadelphiafed.org/community-de...
I guess that higher education didn't have enough lethality studies programs to keep the Department of Defense happy.
www.war.gov/News/News-St...
www.war.gov/News/News-St...
!["[We] will evaluate all existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at all Ivy League universities and other civilian universities," he said. "The goal is to determine whether or not they actually deliver cost-effective strategic education for future senior leaders when compared to, say, public universities and our military graduate programs."
Going forward, Hegseth said, the War Department will focus on developing warriors, increasing lethality and reestablishing deterrence.
"That no longer includes spending billions of dollars on expensive universities that actively undercut our mission and undercut our country," he said.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t246266smqkjxhwir7xpbl3o/bafkreigzba35o2xgy5uq43uot6xunlul6sf43ganefiozstbf2gw72way4@jpeg)
February 9, 2026 at 12:42 PM
I guess that higher education didn't have enough lethality studies programs to keep the Department of Defense happy.
www.war.gov/News/News-St...
www.war.gov/News/News-St...
This is a helpful piece for those who are interested in submitting public comments to the federal government on key higher education policy issues. Keep things to the point and use data to support your argument.
What Makes for an Effective Public Comment?
With a series of critical higher ed regulations soon to be opened for public comment, Inside Higher Ed spoke with three experts on how to submit feedback that makes an impact. Here’s what they had to ...
www.insidehighered.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:25 AM
This is a helpful piece for those who are interested in submitting public comments to the federal government on key higher education policy issues. Keep things to the point and use data to support your argument.
And give the best commercial award to the prostrate cancer test. That's pretty clever.
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM
And give the best commercial award to the prostrate cancer test. That's pretty clever.
Go ahead and give the MVP awards to the Seattle kicker and the New England punter.
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Go ahead and give the MVP awards to the Seattle kicker and the New England punter.
I can't process flashing lights, so my streak of not watching the Super Bowl halftime show will continue. I'll put it on my second screen so I can listen to it without having to see the lights.
February 9, 2026 at 1:01 AM
I can't process flashing lights, so my streak of not watching the Super Bowl halftime show will continue. I'll put it on my second screen so I can listen to it without having to see the lights.
These are not great commercials to watch with small children. Hopefully, I don't get punched in the groin by a teddy bear later.
February 9, 2026 at 12:10 AM
These are not great commercials to watch with small children. Hopefully, I don't get punched in the groin by a teddy bear later.
The Super Bowl commercials would be much better for this old fart if they came with captions about who the celebrities are supposed to be.
February 8, 2026 at 11:58 PM
The Super Bowl commercials would be much better for this old fart if they came with captions about who the celebrities are supposed to be.
It's a good morning for a fresh pan of maple pecan sticky buns!
Recipe link in alt text.
Recipe link in alt text.
February 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM
It's a good morning for a fresh pan of maple pecan sticky buns!
Recipe link in alt text.
Recipe link in alt text.
I didn't have a Harvard vs. Tennessee comparison on my Epstein files bingo card, but here you go.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
![To: Jeffrey epstein[jeevacation©gmail.com]
From: roger schank
Sent: Sun 12/6/2009 10:36:41 PM
Subject: harvard vs tennessee
why no one would choose to be at tenn
1. the teaching load is maybe 2 to 4 times heavier at tenn
2. the likelihood of getting good PhD students is zero (this matter a lot for
research)
3. the odds of getting bright undergrads is nearly zero (this matter a lot for
teaching)
4. it is harder to get grants
5. tenn is run, in effect by the state legislature
6. your colleagues are likely to be dull
7. you would be living in knoxville
need I go on? anyone who could get out would; there is no one good there
roger schank
http://www.rogerschank.com/
EFTA_R1_01505631
EFTA02434129](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t246266smqkjxhwir7xpbl3o/bafkreiedqabgkih37bwfqg233zayrwizq6liphiyzehgtb637ctf3ayjw4@jpeg)
February 6, 2026 at 5:54 PM
I didn't have a Harvard vs. Tennessee comparison on my Epstein files bingo card, but here you go.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Clever and interesting paper on (literally) bridging political cultures
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 6, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Clever and interesting paper on (literally) bridging political cultures
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Had an interesting discussion recently with some faculty about an uptick in students wanting more "direct instruction" or, as the students sometimes put it, more "teaching."
What they seem to mean is more lecture, presentation with slides, or sage on the stage stuff.
What they seem to mean is more lecture, presentation with slides, or sage on the stage stuff.
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Had an interesting discussion recently with some faculty about an uptick in students wanting more "direct instruction" or, as the students sometimes put it, more "teaching."
What they seem to mean is more lecture, presentation with slides, or sage on the stage stuff.
What they seem to mean is more lecture, presentation with slides, or sage on the stage stuff.
I shared some context with the Washington Post (whose education team survived the mass layoffs) on the Trump administration's efforts to go after the National Student Clearinghouse and NSLVE. I expect red-state publics to drop out of what used to be a bipartisan effort.
Trump administration investigating reports Tufts shared student voting data
The Education Department said it received complaints Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse shared private student data with political groups to influence elections.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 AM
I shared some context with the Washington Post (whose education team survived the mass layoffs) on the Trump administration's efforts to go after the National Student Clearinghouse and NSLVE. I expect red-state publics to drop out of what used to be a bipartisan effort.
This has slowly been happening at all but flagship public universities. This would accelerate the practice, and I expect more states (including some blue states) to follow suit in the coming years.
Breaking, from me: An executive order from Oklahoma's governor directs most of the state's public colleges to "phase out tenure." #AcademicSky #HigherEd @chronicle.com
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
Tenure Will Be Eliminated at Most of Oklahoma’s Public Colleges, Governor Says
Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, directed the state’s two-dozen regional universities and community colleges to phase out the practice. Existing faculty members will be grandfathered in.
www.chronicle.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 PM
This has slowly been happening at all but flagship public universities. This would accelerate the practice, and I expect more states (including some blue states) to follow suit in the coming years.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
The US Dept of Education never ever announces or discloses FERPA investigations.
But today it did, to see if a research project exposed student identities to third parties 🤔
But today it did, to see if a research project exposed student identities to third parties 🤔
February 5, 2026 at 8:55 PM
The US Dept of Education never ever announces or discloses FERPA investigations.
But today it did, to see if a research project exposed student identities to third parties 🤔
But today it did, to see if a research project exposed student identities to third parties 🤔
This complaint from the University of Houston's basketball coach (annual salary: $5.5 million) likely won't sit well with many of the faculty and staff there.
Kelvin Sampson bemoans Houston NIL budget: 'We're poor'
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said his top-10 team can't sign more recruits because the school's athletic department is "very poor."
www.espn.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
This complaint from the University of Houston's basketball coach (annual salary: $5.5 million) likely won't sit well with many of the faculty and staff there.
Southern Oregon University is on track not to have enough cash to meet payroll by early next year, and it is looking at ending all summer classes to help plug a massive budget gap.
Southern Oregon University warns of financial crisis, payroll risk by early 2027
Despite years of budget cuts, Southern Oregon University is warning of a projected cash shortfall that could affect payroll as early as next year.
www.ijpr.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Southern Oregon University is on track not to have enough cash to meet payroll by early next year, and it is looking at ending all summer classes to help plug a massive budget gap.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Many universities eager to cut PhD cohorts and programs will follow Harvard’s example and cut.
But they will not be able to rally donors and raise $50-$100 million to re-fund those PhD programs “in perpetuity” as Harvard is now doing
But they will not be able to rally donors and raise $50-$100 million to re-fund those PhD programs “in perpetuity” as Harvard is now doing
FAS Announces New Endowment for Ph.D. Candidates | Harvard Magazine
A $50 million gift from alumni donors aims to protect research opportunities amid political uncertainty
www.harvardmagazine.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Many universities eager to cut PhD cohorts and programs will follow Harvard’s example and cut.
But they will not be able to rally donors and raise $50-$100 million to re-fund those PhD programs “in perpetuity” as Harvard is now doing
But they will not be able to rally donors and raise $50-$100 million to re-fund those PhD programs “in perpetuity” as Harvard is now doing
We know very little about faculty members' actual teaching loads (the last national survey of faculty was in 2003), but states are trying to increase teaching loads. Expect this to spread as legislators don't understand what faculty do the other 34 hours each week if they teach a 2/2.
The Campaign to Make Professors Teach More
Lawmakers say faculty members don’t work enough. Is this about productivity or punishment?
www.chronicle.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:02 PM
We know very little about faculty members' actual teaching loads (the last national survey of faculty was in 2003), but states are trying to increase teaching loads. Expect this to spread as legislators don't understand what faculty do the other 34 hours each week if they teach a 2/2.
It's truly remarkable that potential college athletes always seem to get favorable rulings from judges where that university is located.
TRO granted for Vols QB Aguilar in bid for extra eligibility
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has been granted a temporary restraining order in his lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an extra year of eligibility, which he would use as a member of the Vols.
www.espn.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:33 PM
It's truly remarkable that potential college athletes always seem to get favorable rulings from judges where that university is located.
State funding for public higher ed went up by approximately 0.7% in FY26, the fourteenth consecutive increase but below the rate of inflation this time. Eight states cut funding by at least five percent, setting off warnings going forward.
shef.sheeo.org/wp-content/u...
shef.sheeo.org/wp-content/u...
shef.sheeo.org
February 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
State funding for public higher ed went up by approximately 0.7% in FY26, the fourteenth consecutive increase but below the rate of inflation this time. Eight states cut funding by at least five percent, setting off warnings going forward.
shef.sheeo.org/wp-content/u...
shef.sheeo.org/wp-content/u...
This is one of the few public institutional responses that I have seen to the impending federal grad student borrowing limits. If donors can be tapped to provide funds, it's budget neutral...but will donors sustain interest in a few years?
L&C Strengthens Access to Graduate Education with Historic Scholarship Investment
The Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling is making a historic investment in need-based scholarships, offering one to every incomi...
graduate.lclark.edu
February 4, 2026 at 10:25 AM
This is one of the few public institutional responses that I have seen to the impending federal grad student borrowing limits. If donors can be tapped to provide funds, it's budget neutral...but will donors sustain interest in a few years?
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Cool workshop in DC in June for higher ed policy academics with less than 10 years of research experience. Deadline to apply is March 1.
www.peer-center.org/research/sum...
www.peer-center.org/research/sum...
APPLY NOW: PEER Center Summer Scholars Program — PEER Center
June 3-5, 2026 | Apply by March 1 The Postsecondary Education & Economics Research (PEER) Center invites early- and mid-career academics conducting higher education policy research to apply to pa...
www.peer-center.org
February 3, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Cool workshop in DC in June for higher ed policy academics with less than 10 years of research experience. Deadline to apply is March 1.
www.peer-center.org/research/sum...
www.peer-center.org/research/sum...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
People get mad at HR, and I get it. But here's the thing: we have woefully under-invested in HR infrastructure, and we pay the price over and over.
Have personally experienced nearly everything in this article that can apply to staff. It really is completely absurd and the office that is most egregiously underpaid and can't hold on to talent? HR. I'm not joking.
Here's my piece on compensation absurdities in higher. Only scratches the surface, but hopeful we can use this as a springboard to say: this weird thing we do? We don't have to keep doing it. Or, we can do this better. Let's aim higher www.chronicle.com/article/high...
February 3, 2026 at 8:42 PM
People get mad at HR, and I get it. But here's the thing: we have woefully under-invested in HR infrastructure, and we pay the price over and over.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
I'll note, the push in the Compact from the feds around grant selection was not an accident. They would like a world where research grants were generally pork.
JIM BANKS (R-Indiana): Massachusetts, which is virtually the same size as my state (?!), received nearly $3 billion last year.
Can you explain why schools on the coast seem to get more NIH funding than schools like my state, which is doing a lot of research as well?
Can you explain why schools on the coast seem to get more NIH funding than schools like my state, which is doing a lot of research as well?
February 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I'll note, the push in the Compact from the feds around grant selection was not an accident. They would like a world where research grants were generally pork.