This editorial was first published by USA Today on October 27, 2023. My decision to leave the financial world and return to Hope College as its 14th president was motivated, in part, by a question that continues to haunt me: Will the United States persist as a land of opportunity for all, or will it turn into a land of privilege for …
Continue reading “Want to make college more affordable? Stop handing out student loans.”
cat·a·lyst ˈka-tə-ləst : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action It has been over a month since Hope College’s Catalyst Summit with Malcolm Gladwell to explore a future where higher education is built on an entirely new funding model. With the benefit of some time to reflect on the thought-provoking content presented by …
cat·a·lyst ˈka-tə-ləst :an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action The Catalyst Summit, hosted by Hope College and Malcolm Gladwell, is a day for innovators, thought leaders and change-makers to explore the possibilities of a future where higher education is built on an entirely new funding model making college education affordable and accessible to all. …
Every student who takes Economics 101 learns the concept of supply and demand—specifically, how a decrease in the supply of a good or resource drives up its cost. We see—even today—how labor shortages and international conflict are decreasing supply and thereby increasing the price of everything from energy to food. Can supply-and-demand theory also explain the …
Continue reading “Follow the Money: How Student Loans Derailed American Higher Education”
Going to college was never in doubt for me. I grew up in a family that believed in the value of education. My mom had a master’s degree (and was a middle school science teacher by trade) and my dad had a Ph.D. in chemistry. When it came time to select a college, I knew …
Continue reading “Why the Four-Year Degree is Still the Best “Pathway Program””
The discussion around improving access to higher education —specifically due to the decades-long price increase of a four-year degree — is typically framed as whether or not college should be free. The question is more complex than political debates allow for, but let’s start with some facts: Nonetheless, free-vs-not-free is a false dichotomy. And it oversimplifies the issues …
Continue reading “Rethinking the Economic Model of Higher Education”
The whole world is asking why American colleges and universities have gotten so expensive. And—it’s an increasingly urgent problem to solve. Since I went to college, the average sticker price of attending a private, four-year college or university has more than doubled. And if the current trajectory continues, my 13-year-old daughter will pay double today’s sticker price …
Continue reading “To Preserve the American Dream, Improve Access to Higher Ed”
Dear Hope Community, I’m sure many of you found it hard to concentrate today. I certainly did. This morning, after watching events unfold in our nation’s capital yesterday, I did my best to take solace in Psalm 30:5: “His joy comes in the morning.” Yet today, as we stand in the shadow of yesterday’s attack, …
Dear Friends, November is here — and the Thanksgiving season is upon us. We are so thankful for the way Hope College has transformed our lives, and we are especially thankful for all you do to support Hope! This month, we invite you to share your gratitude. Tell us about the person, program or experience …
