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/
I said this for the Chronicle's 25-year retrospective. But my more serious answer over the last quarter century was the move from college access to completion (around 2008) and then return on investment (around 2017). It encapsulates all the pressures around us.
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
December 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I said this for the Chronicle's 25-year retrospective. But my more serious answer over the last quarter century was the move from college access to completion (around 2008) and then return on investment (around 2017). It encapsulates all the pressures around us.
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
I got an entire book of dad jokes for Christmas. It's always good to keep building up my supply!
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I got an entire book of dad jokes for Christmas. It's always good to keep building up my supply!
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Marginal Returns to Public Universities,” by Jack Mountjoy: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Marginal Returns to Public Universities
Abstract. This paper studies the returns to enrolling in American public universities by comparing the long-term outcomes of barely admitted versus barely
doi.org
December 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
The sticking point in negotiations between Harvard and the Trump administration appears to be where the payment goes. Harvard wants the entire $500 million to go to workforce development, while the government wants to collect $200 million of the money. The saga goes on.
In Private Letters, Harvard and Trump Administration Escalate Duel
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The sticking point in negotiations between Harvard and the Trump administration appears to be where the payment goes. Harvard wants the entire $500 million to go to workforce development, while the government wants to collect $200 million of the money. The saga goes on.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Coming to a campus near you: goldengatexpress.org/114511/campu...
SFSU offers buyouts to all tenure-track and tenured faculty
The Voluntary Separation Incentive Program is a “balancing act,” where there is a stronger incentive for tenured and tenure-track faculty to retire and open up room to hire back lecturer faculty.
goldengatexpress.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Coming to a campus near you: goldengatexpress.org/114511/campu...
I have gotten three requests in the last few days from journals that I have never submitted to asking for me to review manuscripts within 14 days.
Nope. I'm not even sending out any manuscripts as an associate editor until January 5. Time for a break, folks!
Nope. I'm not even sending out any manuscripts as an associate editor until January 5. Time for a break, folks!
December 23, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I have gotten three requests in the last few days from journals that I have never submitted to asking for me to review manuscripts within 14 days.
Nope. I'm not even sending out any manuscripts as an associate editor until January 5. Time for a break, folks!
Nope. I'm not even sending out any manuscripts as an associate editor until January 5. Time for a break, folks!
ED is launching a Clery Act investigation of Brown following the recent killings on campus. I don't recall them doing that with this fall's high-profile killing at Utah Valley.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
U.S. Department of Education Announces Review of Brown University for Potential Clery Act Violations
Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will conduct a program review of Brown University in response to the December 13, 2025, shooting on its campus, which killed two students.
www.ed.gov
December 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
ED is launching a Clery Act investigation of Brown following the recent killings on campus. I don't recall them doing that with this fall's high-profile killing at Utah Valley.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
The College Football Playoff...where the first team to six points can win.
December 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The College Football Playoff...where the first team to six points can win.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
One thing I’ve noticed in reporting on the New School as in the conversation about budget deficits and cuts in higher ed more generally is how few facts and actual analysis enter into the discussion.
Falling Enrollment, Money Woes: The New School Seeks a Path to Survival
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:19 AM
One thing I’ve noticed in reporting on the New School as in the conversation about budget deficits and cuts in higher ed more generally is how few facts and actual analysis enter into the discussion.
This is a heck of a Friday afternoon news dump as much of American higher education is already out of town for the holidays. The new governor of Virginia can't be happy.
Amid Scrutiny of its Board, UVa Picks a President
Scott Beardsley, dean of the university’s business school, will face skepticism on faculty and among Democratic lawmakers.
www.chronicle.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This is a heck of a Friday afternoon news dump as much of American higher education is already out of town for the holidays. The new governor of Virginia can't be happy.
Once again, good luck finding a deep pool of qualified applicants for college president searches. And judging by how many executive search firms fill up my and colleagues' inboxes, the challenges extend to the provost and dean levels.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
December 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Once again, good luck finding a deep pool of qualified applicants for college president searches. And judging by how many executive search firms fill up my and colleagues' inboxes, the challenges extend to the provost and dean levels.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
The whole exchange that this is from is fascinating but I’ll add my pet thing and say that I remain really interested in understanding why people are so confident that college prices are up in recent years when they are not.
CPI though can be misleading at times since (imported) goods deflation drove much of that. Map median home prices vs median wages, for example. Or college. Or daycare. Etc.
December 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The whole exchange that this is from is fascinating but I’ll add my pet thing and say that I remain really interested in understanding why people are so confident that college prices are up in recent years when they are not.
I pick my words carefully when describing colleges' financial situations, but sometimes the numbers are simply that bad. I hope that Webster can turn it around, but it doesn't seem like recruiting students from India and Nepal who immediately leave is the answer.
www.chronicle.com/article/webs...
www.chronicle.com/article/webs...
December 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I pick my words carefully when describing colleges' financial situations, but sometimes the numbers are simply that bad. I hope that Webster can turn it around, but it doesn't seem like recruiting students from India and Nepal who immediately leave is the answer.
www.chronicle.com/article/webs...
www.chronicle.com/article/webs...
I saw a school bus with a Subway ad on it. That's a first, but budgets are tight.
December 17, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I saw a school bus with a Subway ad on it. That's a first, but budgets are tight.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
The University of Arkansas spent $36,000 on balloons last year. After seeing what they got, we think it was worth every penny.
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
December 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The University of Arkansas spent $36,000 on balloons last year. After seeing what they got, we think it was worth every penny.
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
Workers are feeling increasingly anxious about losing their jobs in a tough labor market...and those with higher education levels aren't exempt. The prospect of AI being used for job cuts is scaring people.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
December 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Workers are feeling increasingly anxious about losing their jobs in a tough labor market...and those with higher education levels aren't exempt. The prospect of AI being used for job cuts is scaring people.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
18 state attorneys general sent a letter to the Department of Education opposing the ACTS survey collection. Their issues are mainly with privacy. They're not wrong to be concerned.
oag.ca.gov/system/files...
oag.ca.gov/system/files...
December 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
18 state attorneys general sent a letter to the Department of Education opposing the ACTS survey collection. Their issues are mainly with privacy. They're not wrong to be concerned.
oag.ca.gov/system/files...
oag.ca.gov/system/files...
The word of the year in higher education in 2025 has been "uncertainty." We may get a few bits of certainty in 2026 on things like how grad student lending limits affect universities and students, but it's still a very wild ride going forward.
Top 12 Findings From Inside Higher Ed’s Surveys in 2025
Here’s what our annual surveys of higher ed leaders and students revealed.
www.insidehighered.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The word of the year in higher education in 2025 has been "uncertainty." We may get a few bits of certainty in 2026 on things like how grad student lending limits affect universities and students, but it's still a very wild ride going forward.
I wrote 404 words toward a paper today while snuggling my happy kid in my lap. Life is good.
December 17, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I wrote 404 words toward a paper today while snuggling my happy kid in my lap. Life is good.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Those of us who study higher ed know that price has been flat for a while. A point is that especially at public research universities (flagship types) have been hoarding enrollments, taking them away from regional campuses, precisely because they’re unable to charge much more per student.
College costs are soaring! www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...
December 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Those of us who study higher ed know that price has been flat for a while. A point is that especially at public research universities (flagship types) have been hoarding enrollments, taking them away from regional campuses, precisely because they’re unable to charge much more per student.
I really appreciate @erickelderman.bsky.social's play-by-play coverage of today's federal accreditation meeting.
Under Trump, Accreditation Oversight Committee Produces Some Smoke, but No Fire
The federal panel’s new chair, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, acknowledged the “awkwardness” in the room and said he aimed to be “evenhanded.”
www.chronicle.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I really appreciate @erickelderman.bsky.social's play-by-play coverage of today's federal accreditation meeting.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social Tomas Monarrez and I explore the credit profile of graduate students likely to need private loans after OBBBA’s new loan limits take effect next July. A bit over 1/3 have thin or poor credit and may struggle to get a private loan under typical underwriting practices.
OUT TODAY: @jdmatsudaira.bsky.social, Monarrez, Ritter looked at new graduate loan limits.
➡️ One in three now borrow above the limits, esp doctoral/prof. degrees
➡️ Of those, almost 40% will struggle to get private loans
➡️ Variation by field of study
www.peer-center.org/research/stu...
➡️ One in three now borrow above the limits, esp doctoral/prof. degrees
➡️ Of those, almost 40% will struggle to get private loans
➡️ Variation by field of study
www.peer-center.org/research/stu...
Student Loans for Graduate School: Who Will Be Affected by the New Federal Lending Limits? — PEER Center
This report was published through the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Consumer Finance Institute. A key provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, signed into law in July 2025,…
www.peer-center.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social Tomas Monarrez and I explore the credit profile of graduate students likely to need private loans after OBBBA’s new loan limits take effect next July. A bit over 1/3 have thin or poor credit and may struggle to get a private loan under typical underwriting practices.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
First minor drama at #NACIQI: The election for a new chair. Nominees are Zakiya Smith-Ellis, appointed by Congressional Dems and a former Secretary of Higher Ed in NJ; and Jay Greene, a new member and former Heritage Foundation fellow appointed by ED.
First round of voting ends in an 8-8 tie...
First round of voting ends in an 8-8 tie...
December 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
First minor drama at #NACIQI: The election for a new chair. Nominees are Zakiya Smith-Ellis, appointed by Congressional Dems and a former Secretary of Higher Ed in NJ; and Jay Greene, a new member and former Heritage Foundation fellow appointed by ED.
First round of voting ends in an 8-8 tie...
First round of voting ends in an 8-8 tie...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Quite possibly the best con law article ever written in the English language. Bravo @jerryedwards.bsky.social
I don't know, Aaron. I think we need to take this seriously. In fact, after surveying hundreds of years of history in the past few days, I've written an article assessing the originalist case here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 16, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Quite possibly the best con law article ever written in the English language. Bravo @jerryedwards.bsky.social
I'm expecting some fireworks tomorrow at the first meeting in months of the federal committee that oversees accreditors. This is a key mechanism for the administration's higher ed goals.
Will Trump Try to Strong-Arm College Accreditors?
The Education Department has signaled that reforming the system — which the president has described as a “secret weapon” for changing higher education — is its top priority.
www.chronicle.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I'm expecting some fireworks tomorrow at the first meeting in months of the federal committee that oversees accreditors. This is a key mechanism for the administration's higher ed goals.