Ben Selznick
@benselznick.bsky.social
Higher education leadership professor. Musician. Washington Wizards fan. Views are my own.
New out today: www.forbes.com/sites/benjam...
The Real GenAI Threat To Colleges Isn’t Cheating; It’s Fewer Jobs
This article examines the threat of generative AI (genAI) to higher education in terms of its impact on entry-level jobs. It also provides suggestions to colleges.
www.forbes.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
New out today: www.forbes.com/sites/benjam...
Yep.
One of the things I learned writing a book about global trade is that thing you got delivered next day started its journey *months* ago in China or SE Asia.
A few months from now you will see an explosion of stories about empty shelves. It’s going to blow people’s minds.
A few months from now you will see an explosion of stories about empty shelves. It’s going to blow people’s minds.
Is this bad? I'm no international shipping expert, but this sounds bad.
May 5, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Yep.
Reposted by Ben Selznick
Spencer Foundation joins Kapor Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to launch a rapid response bridge funding program (up to $25,000) for education scholars impacted by the abrupt grant cancellations by the National Science Foundation (NSF)!
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
www.spencer.org
May 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Spencer Foundation joins Kapor Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to launch a rapid response bridge funding program (up to $25,000) for education scholars impacted by the abrupt grant cancellations by the National Science Foundation (NSF)!
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
Currently reading this remarkable volume. If engaging in "relentless attempts to secure financial resources in a competitive, market-oriented environment" (p. 17) sounds more like a start-up then a century-old College, well, read on and think again. Enjoying this book immensely so far!
April 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Currently reading this remarkable volume. If engaging in "relentless attempts to secure financial resources in a competitive, market-oriented environment" (p. 17) sounds more like a start-up then a century-old College, well, read on and think again. Enjoying this book immensely so far!
As we're seeing again and again (front page news today), money matters a whole lot in higher education and, ultimately, the students colleges can serve. This book sold out on Amazon (you read that right) because the conversation is that important. Check it out and share widely.
We hear a lot about student debt, but not nearly enough about how policies are shaping the financial models of the colleges themselves. Capitalizing on College unpacks the unintended consequences of federal aid policy and what it means for equity and access.
April 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
As we're seeing again and again (front page news today), money matters a whole lot in higher education and, ultimately, the students colleges can serve. This book sold out on Amazon (you read that right) because the conversation is that important. Check it out and share widely.
RELEASE DAY!!! I encourage everyone to check out (and review) this book! I'll be sharing more updates as I read it in the coming days but, wow, talk about timely and important! #academicsky
www.amazon.com/Capitalizing...
www.amazon.com/Capitalizing...
Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went from Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed
Buy Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went from Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
RELEASE DAY!!! I encourage everyone to check out (and review) this book! I'll be sharing more updates as I read it in the coming days but, wow, talk about timely and important! #academicsky
www.amazon.com/Capitalizing...
www.amazon.com/Capitalizing...
Wow!
March 28, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Wow!
I just said something similar in class last night. How is this all going to work? Are individual students going to have to contact -- whom exactly? -- to have their financial aid directed to their college/university? Are bursars offices going to become, in essence, collection agencies for fed aid?
Pieces like this are why I'm concerned about the ability of students to get financial aid on time in the fall...and for some small colleges to make payroll as a result. Even if there is no intent to cut aid, there don't seem to be the staff to handle inevitable issues that arise.
Education Department Staff Struggle After Mass Layoffs
The Trump administration said its sweeping cuts would eliminate bloat at the department. Staff say the “chaotic” process has stalled essential functions and left remaining employees with unmanageable ...
www.insidehighered.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I just said something similar in class last night. How is this all going to work? Are individual students going to have to contact -- whom exactly? -- to have their financial aid directed to their college/university? Are bursars offices going to become, in essence, collection agencies for fed aid?
This is real, and really serious.
Here Vox's explainer for just what is going on at the Department of Education which includes me saying I don't have faith in financial aid disbursement next year and, oh yea, I think we're in a constitutional crisis
www.vox.com/policy/40233...
www.vox.com/policy/40233...
March 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is real, and really serious.
Reposted by Ben Selznick
If I'm a public university president, I'm putting a post-tenure review process in place before the legislature does so to me. It's a good idea when done through shared governance.
States Are Once Again Taking Aim at Tenure. This Time Might Be Different.
A wave of bills seek to crack down on tenure by effectively eliminating it, calling for a stricter system of post-tenure review, or some combination.
www.chronicle.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM
If I'm a public university president, I'm putting a post-tenure review process in place before the legislature does so to me. It's a good idea when done through shared governance.
Reposted by Ben Selznick
I have decided to cancel my show at The Kennedy Center on May 11, 2025 and move it to The Anthem.
February 26, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I have decided to cancel my show at The Kennedy Center on May 11, 2025 and move it to The Anthem.
This is the correct answer.
Hood
Ghost
Chalkdust
Tweezer
Ghost
Chalkdust
Tweezer
February 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This is the correct answer.
Check it out!
Read our report, "Sustained Professional Development for VITAL Faculty: Engagement & Benefits" to learn more about how VITAL/contingent faculty's and students' professional development needs can be met: shorturl.at/g70Jg
@kcculver.bsky.social, @akezar.bsky.social, @benselznick.bsky.social
@kcculver.bsky.social, @akezar.bsky.social, @benselznick.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Check it out!
Check it out!!!
Call for abstracts! This is an open call for a special issue of Innovative Higher Education, examining the Value, Purpose, and Public Perception of Higher Education. Abstracts are due on March 17th, see the attached PDF for more information.
drive.google.com/file/d/1HvXk...
drive.google.com/file/d/1HvXk...
Innovative Higher Ed Special Issue-Purpose, Value, and Public Perception of Higher Education.pdf
drive.google.com
February 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Check it out!!!
Reposted by Ben Selznick
DOGE came for the research and statistics arm of the U.S. Department of Education today, declared "fraud" and "waste" and abruptly terminated about $900M in contracts. A lot of what we know about America's schools comes from the data this agency collects. New reporting with @jodiscohen.bsky.social
Elon Musk’s Team Decimates Education Department Arm That Tracks National School Performance
The Trump administration canceled $900 million in contracts overseen by the Institute of Education Sciences, which partners with scientists and education companies to compile and make public data abou...
www.propublica.org
February 11, 2025 at 5:38 AM
DOGE came for the research and statistics arm of the U.S. Department of Education today, declared "fraud" and "waste" and abruptly terminated about $900M in contracts. A lot of what we know about America's schools comes from the data this agency collects. New reporting with @jodiscohen.bsky.social
WHAT A LEGEND! The whole stadium....the. whole. stadium.
February 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
WHAT A LEGEND! The whole stadium....the. whole. stadium.
Reposted by Ben Selznick
Virginia: In 2024, 4 schools received more than $10 million in grants for a total of $376 million. Of that, $236 went directly to research, and $140 million went to facilities and administration. The new rate would bring that to $35 million, a loss of $105 million.
February 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Virginia: In 2024, 4 schools received more than $10 million in grants for a total of $376 million. Of that, $236 went directly to research, and $140 million went to facilities and administration. The new rate would bring that to $35 million, a loss of $105 million.
"The indirect costs of doing research are real and substantial". They sure are. This is going to cause huge disruptions to Universities, research, and researchers.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
National Institutes of Health radically cuts support to universities
Sudden and drastic change will make it hard for researchers to keep the lights on.
arstechnica.com
February 8, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"The indirect costs of doing research are real and substantial". They sure are. This is going to cause huge disruptions to Universities, research, and researchers.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Ben Selznick
Ah, the millennial experience of “every time you get some measure of financial and career stability, the world decides to do something extraordinarily stupid again”
February 3, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Ah, the millennial experience of “every time you get some measure of financial and career stability, the world decides to do something extraordinarily stupid again”
Absolutely true.
Even if federal funding proceeds as usual following a judge's injunction, there were still many grant review sessions cancelled. Those are extremely difficult to schedule, significantly delaying funding.
It's not an exaggeration to say this week's events could cost a researcher a job or tenure.
It's not an exaggeration to say this week's events could cost a researcher a job or tenure.
January 28, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Absolutely true.